Armenia’s foreign ministry is standing “ready to engage” with France, Russia and the United States on halting it’s battle with neighbour, Azerbaijan. The BBC reports that the conflict around the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which erupted on Sunday, has seen casualties mounting in the southern Caucasus.

The disputed territory is officially part of Azerbaijan, but is run by ethnic Armenians. A settlement has never been reached.

Azerbaijan, meanwhile, said it’s forces had made further advances. It has also accused Armenia of causing civilian casualties in artillery attacks on four villages. Armenia says it has shot down seven drones flying near the capital, Yerevan, a claim rejected by Azerbaijan. Nearly 200 have been confirmed killed, including more than 30 civilians. There are fears of the fighting expanding into war that could suck in regional powers Turkey and Russia. Further, two French journalists were injured in the Armenian town of Martuni during Azeri shelling. They are reportedly in grave condition.

According to the BBC, Armenia’s foreign ministry, in response to a joint statement on Thursday by the presidents of France, Russia and the US calling for an “immediate cessation of hostilities”, said on Friday that it was ready to engage to “re-establish a ceasefire regime based on the 1994-1995 agreements”. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has rejected the talks. Meanwhile, Turkey, an ally of Azerbaijan, said a lasting ceasefire depends on “Armenians’ withdrawal from every span of Azerbaijani territory”.

Umm Muhammed Umar