- Moscow, Kyiv end Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine
- Carter's Middle East peace legacy survives, but mostly in name
- South Korea investigators vow to execute Yoon arrest warrant
- South Korea says will send Jeju Air crash black box to US
- Navarro stunned by wildcard as Dimitrov cruises in Brisbane
- Tintin, Popeye, Hemingway among US copyrights expiring in 2025
- Cavs top Lakers in LeBron's first game at 40, Celtics crush Raptors
- Finnish police probing seven sailors over cut cables
- Canada's Dabrowski reveals cancer treatment amid run to Olympic bronze
- Milan says no to all outdoor smoking in Italy's toughest ban
- Zverev out of United Cup with injury as Australian Open looms
- FBI makes its largest bomb bust on Virginia farm
- Rain break helps Osaka overcome nerves to reach Auckland quarters
- Ex-India coach Shastri wants two-tier Test system after MCG blockbuster
- New year hope and joy reign in a Damascus freed from Assad
- End of Russian gas via Ukraine sparks unease in eastern Europe
- Zelensky vows Ukraine will do everything in 2025 to stop Russia
- Island-wide blackout hits Puerto Rico on New Year's Eve
- Serbia enters New Year with student protests over train station tragedy
- Romania, Bulgaria join borderless Schengen zone
- US Capitol riot fugitive seeks asylum in Canada
- Musk flummoxes internet with 'Kekius Maximus' persona
- Venezuela opposition urges protests against Maduro's inauguration
- Syria's de facto leader meets minority Christians
- Suriname ex-dictator Bouterse to be cremated on Saturday
- £1.5 mn reward offered after 'brazen' London gem raid
- Zimbabwe abolishes the death penalty
- Barcelona race against clock to register Olmo
- Arteta wants Arsenal to hammer away in title race
- Panama marks canal handover anniversary in shadow of Trump threat
- Gaza hospital chief held by Israel becomes face of crumbling healthcare
- Russian advances in Ukraine grew seven-fold in 2024, data shows
- US farmers fret over Trump's deportation plans
- BBC celebrates 100 years of 'poetic' shipping forecast
- West Ham's Bowen sidelined with foot fracture
- Global markets rode AI, interest rate roller coaster in 2024
- Ocalan: PKK chief held in solitary on Turkish prison island
- Yemen's Huthis a 'menace' for Israel despite weakened Iran: analysts
- Rooney exit extends managerial struggles for England's 'golden generation'
- Gaza healthcare nearing 'total collapse' due to Israeli strikes: UN
- German leaders hit back at Musk's support for far right
- Southgate won't be 'Sir' at home after knighthood
- Rooney leaves Plymouth after just seven months in charge
- Kyrgios needs 'miracle' after return from long injury layoff
- Celebrated S.African contemporary dancer Dada Masilo dies aged 39
- Five talking points at the midway point of the Premier League season
- Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reach divorce settlement
- Djokovic, Sabalenka win season-openers but Kyrgios loses on return
- Taiwan says 2024 was hottest year on record
- China says shared Covid information 'without holding anything back'
Azerbaijan says Russia shot at plane before crash, demands it admit
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Russia on Sunday of firing at an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet before it crashed and of initially trying to cover up the cause of the fatal disaster, demanding that Moscow admit guilt.
Aliyev made the accusation in an interview to state media at Baku airport four days after the AZAL plane crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people of the 67 people on board.
Azerbaijani officials have suggested the aircraft was hit by a Russian air-defence system as it tried to land in Grozny, capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya.
Aliyev's unusually forthright accusation of his country's traditional ally came a day after he spoke by phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A Kremlin statement on the phone call gave no indication that Putin had claimed responsibility for the crash.
"The facts are that the Azerbaijani civilian plane was damaged from the outside over Russian territory, near the city of Grozny, and almost lost control," Aliyev told state television.
"We also know that electronic warfare systems put our plane out of control... At the same time, as a result of fire from the ground, the tail of the plane was also severely damaged," he said.
Aliyev said that while "of course, our plane was hit by accident", Baku was angry that Moscow had apparently tried to hide the cause of the crash and demanded its ally admit what happened.
He said it was "regrettable and surprising" that Moscow "put forward theories" that, he said, "clearly showed he Russian side wanted to cover up the issue".
"For the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia except some absurd theories," he said, adding that these included the plane hitting a flock of birds.
He called the theory "completely removed" from reality, pointing out that the plane's "fuselage is riddled with holes".
Russia has said Grozny was being attacked by Ukrainian drones the day the AZAL flight tried to land.
- Azerbaijani demands -
Aliyev urged Moscow to issue a public apology to his country, saying Baku had made official "demands" to Russia two days ago.
"First, the Russian side must apologise to Azerbaijan.
"Second, it must acknowledge its guilt.
"Third, those responsible must be punished, brought to criminal responsibility, and compensation must be paid to the Azerbaijani state, as well as to the injured passengers and crew members.
"These are our conditions," Aliyev said, in unusually strong language towards Moscow.
The Kremlin said on Saturday that during their phone conversation, Putin had apologised to Azerbaijan over the "tragic incident".
Putin said Russian air defence was operating in Grozny on December 25 when the plane tried to land, before diverting and crashing in western Kazakhstan.
The Kremlin statement gave no indication that Putin had said Russia was at fault. Later on Saturday, the Russian leader called for a "transparent" probe into the crash.
Aliyev's office said on Saturday he had "emphasised" during the call that the plane had been subject to outside interference over Russia.
Russian news agencies reported that Putin and Aliyev discussed the crash again on Sunday.
The United States said this week it had "early indications" that Russia was responsible for the crash but did not provide details.
The European Union called on Saturday for a "swift" and "independent" probe into the crash.
T.Resende--PC