There were unconfirmed reports today from Yerevan that thousands of Armenian residents of Azerbaijan were fleeing the republic, fearing anti-Armenian violence.

On Friday, the radio in Baku, Azerbaijan, reported that troops had halted a mob of 1,500 people attempting to attack Armenian residents.

Within hours, a pogrom against Armenian residents began in the city of Sumgait, 25 km north of Baku, where many Azerbaijani refugees resided.

"Mostly women listen to Talal," said Laura Thomas, 24, an Armenian resident of Kuwait and an avid listener of Mr. Yagout's show.

The funeral procession was marked by the Armenian residents of Vanak carrying the coffin for a mile to the Mausoleum, followed by a procession of 80 or more cars.

Within hours, a pogrom against Armenian residents began in Sumgait, a city some 25 kilometers north of Baku.

He said the city's 12,000 Armenian residents live in peace with members of other ethnic groups.

One wing of this offensive headed towards Lake Van to relieve the Armenian residents of Van.

Some of the Armenian residents who escaped to Transcaucasia returned.

The Azerbaijani party and government have been criticized for failing to control violence that flared on Jan. 13 with attacks against Armenian residents.