11.   The Security Council has demanded unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijan.

12.   The town is outside Nargorno-Karabakh in a part of Azerbaijan that was captured by ethnic Armenian forces.

13.   They met commanders of the ethnic Armenian forces in the middle of the strip, which is about two-thirds of a mile wide.

14.   All former Azerbaijani presidents have fallen following major territorial losses to separatist Armenian forces, which Azerbaijan claims were only made possible with Russian aid and material.

15.   Armenian forces returned fire, the ministry said.

16.   Azerbaijan demands the withdrawal of Armenian forces from Lachin and the town of Shusha as a prerequisite for any peace agreement.

17.   But Armenian forces remain in control of the region and continue to press their demands for independence or integration with Armenia.

18.   The secretary-general reiterated Sunday the demands of four UN Security Council resolutions which call for the immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces.

19.   Many Azeris blame Moscow for stoking the Karabakh conflict and equipping the Armenian forces.

20.   The Armenian forces fired back and the shooting stopped after about an hour.