Azerbaijan on Saturday accused Armenia of violated the ceasefire to end fierce fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, shortly after it had been due to take effect, the Azerbaijan defense ministry said in a statement.

"Armenia grossly violates the ceasefire," said the Azerbaijan ministry, adding that there had been attacks in two directions on the frontline.

A ceasefire agreed to by the two countries came into effect at noon local time (0800 GMT) Saturday to end nearly two weeks of heavy fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijani forces accused each other of firing missiles and rockets on civilian areas on Saturday morning shortly before the ceasefire was due to start. 

Bombing sirens that had been sounding all the morning fell silent as the ceasefire deadline passed and residents were venturing out of their homes after days of taking shelter from shelling, rocket fire and drone attacks, according to AFP.