Blast in Nagorno-Karabakh injures more than 200 as thousands flee to Armenia, local official says

By AVET DEMOURIAN
Associated Press

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — A powerful blast has rocked Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region as ethnic Armenians are streaming out of the breakaway territory following its retaking by the Azerbaijani military. The Azerbaijani military claimed full control over the region last week after three decades of separatist rule. Nagorno-Karabakh’s authorities agreed to lay down weapons and start talks on the region’s “reintegration” into Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has pledged to respect the rights of ethnic Armenians and restore supplies after a 10-month blockade, but many local residents fear reprisals and are heading to Armenia. A local official says the explosion at a fuel storage facility near the region’s capital Stepanakert wounded more than 200 people.