TBILISI &mdash Escalating violence, a spiraling arms race and a slowdown in peace talks have increased the risk of war between South Caucasus enemies Armenia and Azerbaijan, a leading think tank said. The International Crisis Group said in a report Tuesday that skirmishes between Armenia and Azerbaijan could easily spiral out of control, causing "devastating regional consequences."
The unresolved conflict, which has killed 3,000 people since 1994, mainly soldiers, is a constant threat to stability in the region.
The ICG said 25 people were killed in 2010 despite an uneasy truce between the two countries, which lie at the heart of key natural gas and oil routes. Three soldiers have been killed in 2011.
(Reuters)
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