Sporadic clashes and accusations between Azerbaijan and Armenia over their lingering border war have left a question as to whether anything will stop the smouldering conflict. 

Lukashenko, under increasing pressure, orders all Belarus borders shut, citing "eternal threats".

Azerbaijan shipped 583,029 tonnes of oil via Russia in January-July, up from 30,000 tonnes shipped in the same period last year.

Milli Mejlis MP Eldaniz Salimov was ordered locked up following a late-night brawl in a Caspian Sea resort town two hours north of Baku.

A top new Armenian government official told the National Assembly in unusually blunt terms that Armenia had to move on from its war losses. A key government priority would be unblocking trade and transit routes, he said.