UPDATE - Turkish official condemns Armenian attack on civilians

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish parliament's speaker on Sunday condemned Armenia's shelling in Azerbaijan's second largest city of Ganja.

"The attack in Azerbaijan's historical city of Ganja is the latest example of Armenia's unlawful and occupant attitude," Mustafa Sentop tweeted.

"I condemn this attack towards civilians, I wish success to the Azerbaijani army that is fighting for their country heroically."

Occupied Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan, he added.

Sentop also criticized the OSCE Minsk Group -- co-chaired by France, Russia and the US -- which he said "hesitates to find a fair solution for Armenia's occupation in Azerbaijani territories," for its silence on the attack.

He called on the body to end its double standards towards Azerbaijan.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Upper Karabakh, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan.

New clashes erupted on Sept. 27 but international calls for a halt to the fighting have gone unanswered. Armenia has continued its attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces, who are the rightful owners of the occupied region.

The OSCE Minsk Group was formed in 1992 to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, but to no avail. A cease-fire was agreed upon in 1994.