With thousands of Ethiopian Federal Government prisoners of war were paraded by their captors. Other prisoners who are closely guarded by the Tigrayan forces can be heard chanting slogans such as we are Abi soldiers and stop ethnic abuse.

Ethiopian government encourages woman to help in war effort

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Friday that military operations launched in the northern region of Tigray had limited objectives, as calls rise for the country to step back from what could be a devastating war.

A long-running feud erupted into armed conflict this week between Addis Ababa and Tigray, whose leaders effectively ruled the country for three decades until Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power. &nbsp;&nbsp;

UN chief Antonio Guterres called for the immediate de-escalation of tensions amid reports of heavy shelling and troop movements, while observers warned that an all-out war between the two powerful armies could be long and bloody.

Abiy, the winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, announced Wednesday he had ordered military operations in Tigray in response to an "attack" on a military camp by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

The TPLF denies the attack occurred and accuses Abiy of concocting the story to justify deploying the military against it.

Abiy wrote on Twitter Friday that the military operations "have clear, limited and achievable objectives -- to restore the rule of law and the constitutional order, and to safeguard the rights of Ethiopians to lead a peaceful life wherever they are in the country".

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Operations by federal defence forces underway in Northern <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethiopia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethiopia</a> have clear, limited &amp; achievable objectives — to restore the rule of law &amp; the constitutional order, and to safeguard the rights of Ethiopians to lead a peaceful life wherever they are in the country.1/2
— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbiyAhmedAli/status/1324632523255762944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
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'Shameful, senseless'&nbsp;

His comments come after the military said Wednesday the country has "entered into a war it didn't anticipate" with the TPLF.

"This war is shameful, it is senseless," Ethiopia's deputy army chief Berhanu Jula said Thursday.

Abiy appeared to be seeking to play down the bellicose rhetoric, and responded to growing international calls for dialogue.

He said the government "patiently tried for several months to resolve differences with TPLF leadership peacefully; we tried mediation, reconciliation, dialogue".

"All failed (because) of TPLF criminal hubris and intransigence. In the last straw TPLF attacked the Northern Command based in Tigray."

'Deeply alarmed'&nbsp;

In a statement on Twitter, Guterres called for "an immediate de-escalation of tensions and a peaceful resolution to the dispute".

"I'm deeply alarmed over the situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The stability of Ethiopia is important for the entire Horn of Africa region," he wrote.

Ethiopia's foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti said the government had explained to the diplomatic community that it "was provoked" into the current situation.&nbsp;

"Their reaction overall is that they want Ethiopia’s peace, stability and want this issue to be solved quickly. More or less we can say they expressed sympathy to our position."

Tigray president Debretsion Gebremichael said Thursday that fighting was taking place in western Tigray, and that federal troops were gathering on the border in neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.

A diplomatic source said there were probably casualties on both sides after heavy fighting and artillery shelling Thursday on one of the main roads linking Tigray to Amhara.

An aid worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 25 wounded soldiers had been admitted to an Amhara health centre on Thursday, without specifying which side they were from.

Internet and phone connections in Tigray have been cut, making any tolls difficult to verify.

'Lengthy and bloody'

The International Crisis Group warned that unless the fighting was urgently halted, the conflict "will be devastating not just for the country but for the entire Horn of Africa".

It said that prolonged fighting could draw in neighbouring Eritrea, whose President Isaias Afwerki is close to Abiy and who is a "sworn enemy" of the TPLF which ruled Ethiopia when it fought a war with Eritrea.

And given Tigray has powerful military forces, with an estimated 250,000 troops, a war could be "lengthy and bloody" in Africa's second most populous country, it said.

It could also further destabilise the diverse nation, split into ethnic-based federal states, which has seen multiple outbreaks of ethnic violence in recent years.

"Immediate, concerted mediation -– local, regional and international -– is needed to avert a descent into a broader crisis," the ICG said.&nbsp;

The TPLF dominated politics in Ethiopia for nearly three decades before Abiy came to power in 2018 on the back of anti-government protests.&nbsp;

Under Abiy, Tigrayan leaders have complained of being unfairly targeted in corruption prosecutions, removed from top positions and broadly scapegoated for the country's woes.

The ICG said the descent into conflict was "sudden but predictable" after weeks of hostilities.

Tensions escalated when Tigray held its own elections in September, after Addis Ababa decided to postpone national polls due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Both sides then refused to recognise the rule of the other, and warlike rhetoric stepped up, with Tigray's president on Monday telling the region to prepare for war, prompting the federal parliament to seek to have the TPLF declared a terrorist group.&nbsp;

Addis Ababa has imposed a six-month state of emergency on Tigray.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Friday that military operations launched in the northern region of Tigray had limited objectives, as calls rise for the country to step back from what could be a devastating war.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Friday that military operations launched in the northern region of Tigray had limited objectives, as calls rise for the country to step back from what could be a devastating war. A long-running feud erupted into armed conflict this week between Addis Ababa and Tigray, whose leaders effectively ruled the country for three decades until Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power. UN chief Antonio Guterres called for the immediate de-escalation of tensions amid reports of heavy shelling and troop movements, while observers warned that an all-out war between the two powerful armies could be long and bloody. Abiy, the winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, announced Wednesday he had ordered military operations in Tigray in response to an "attack" on a military camp by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The TPLF denies the attack occurred and accuses Abiy of concocting the story to justify deploying the military against it. Abiy wrote on Twitter Friday that the military operations "have clear, limited and achievable objectives -- to restore the rule of law and the constitutional order, and to safeguard the rights of Ethiopians to lead a peaceful life wherever they are in the country". Operations by federal defence forces underway in Northern #Ethiopia have clear, limited & achievable objectives — to restore the rule of law & the constitutional order, and to safeguard the rights of Ethiopians to lead a peaceful life wherever they are in the country.1/2 — Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) November 6, 2020 × 'Shameful, senseless' His comments come after the military said Wednesday the country has "entered into a war it didn't anticipate" with the TPLF. "This war is shameful, it is senseless," Ethiopia's deputy army chief Berhanu Jula said Thursday. Abiy appeared to be seeking to play down the bellicose rhetoric, and responded to growing international calls for dialogue. He said the government "patiently tried for several months to resolve differences with TPLF leadership peacefully; we tried mediation, reconciliation, dialogue". "All failed (because) of TPLF criminal hubris and intransigence. In the last straw TPLF attacked the Northern Command based in Tigray." 'Deeply alarmed' In a statement on Twitter, Guterres called for "an immediate de-escalation of tensions and a peaceful resolution to the dispute". "I'm deeply alarmed over the situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The stability of Ethiopia is important for the entire Horn of Africa region," he wrote. Ethiopia's foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti said the government had explained to the diplomatic community that it "was provoked" into the current situation. "Their reaction overall is that they want Ethiopia’s peace, stability and want this issue to be solved quickly. More or less we can say they expressed sympathy to our position." Tigray president Debretsion Gebremichael said Thursday that fighting was taking place in western Tigray, and that federal troops were gathering on the border in neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions. A diplomatic source said there were probably casualties on both sides after heavy fighting and artillery shelling Thursday on one of the main roads linking Tigray to Amhara. An aid worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 25 wounded soldiers had been admitted to an Amhara health centre on Thursday, without specifying which side they were from. Internet and phone connections in Tigray have been cut, making any tolls difficult to verify. 'Lengthy and bloody' The International Crisis Group warned that unless the fighting was urgently halted, the conflict "will be devastating not just for the country but for the entire Horn of Africa". It said that prolonged fighting could draw in neighbouring Eritrea, whose President Isaias Afwerki is close to Abiy and who is a "sworn enemy" of the TPLF which ruled Ethiopia when it fought a war with Eritrea. And given Tigray has powerful military forces, with an estimated 250,000 troops, a war could be "lengthy and bloody" in Africa's second most populous country, it said. It could also further destabilise the diverse nation, split into ethnic-based federal states, which has seen multiple outbreaks of ethnic violence in recent years. "Immediate, concerted mediation -– local, regional and international -– is needed to avert a descent into a broader crisis," the ICG said. The TPLF dominated politics in Ethiopia for nearly three decades before Abiy came to power in 2018 on the back of anti-government protests. Under Abiy, Tigrayan leaders have complained of being unfairly targeted in corruption prosecutions, removed from top positions and broadly scapegoated for the country's woes. The ICG said the descent into conflict was "sudden but predictable" after weeks of hostilities. Tensions escalated when Tigray held its own elections in September, after Addis Ababa decided to postpone national polls due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both sides then refused to recognise the rule of the other, and warlike rhetoric stepped up, with Tigray's president on Monday telling the region to prepare for war, prompting the federal parliament to seek to have the TPLF declared a terrorist group. Addis Ababa has imposed a six-month state of emergency on Tigray.

Ethiopia says 'limited' aims to Tigray operation as alarm grows

Ethiopian lawmakers on Thursday endorsed a six-month state of emergency in the northern region of Tigray, a day after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered military operations there in an escalation of a long-running feud.&nbsp;

The move is part of an attempt by Abiy, winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, to assert federal control over a region whose ruling party has openly defied him for months and brands him as illegitimate.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-declares-state-of-emergency-in-tigray-region-340539" hreflang="en">Ethiopia declares state of emergency in Tigray region</a>

The lower house of parliament "unanimously approved" the state of emergency in a session Thursday morning, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate said.

According to the country's constitution, under a state of emergency the government has "all necessary power to protect the country's peace and sovereignty" and can suspend some "political and democratic rights".&nbsp;

A senior government official told AFP that in Tigray this could lead to a curfew, searches without warrants, transportation and communications restrictions and the detention of "any person that [officials] suspect is taking part in illegal activities that threaten the constitutional order".

The state of emergency could also be extended beyond Tigray if needed, the official said.&nbsp;

Ahead of Thursday's vote, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the national rights body, pointed to the need to maintain key services and supplies for civilians.

Lawmakers "should in particular consider ensuring humanitarian access and support including for food, medicine and other essential civilian services to avoid a complete blockage of communication and transport facilities," it said.&nbsp;

TPLF denies 'attack'

Abiy announced the military operations in Tigray Wednesday morning.

He said the move came in response to an "attack" by the region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), on a military camp there.&nbsp;

But a senior Tigrayan official told AFP Thursday that the "attack" never happened.

"No attack was launched by us," said the official, Wondimu Asamnew.&nbsp;

Speaking on state television Wednesday night, Abiy said there would be further operations in the "coming days".

"In general, when the operations are finished we will disclose them to the public," he said.&nbsp;

The government has not revealed a timeline or a clear military objective for the campaign, though a spokesman for a newly-formed crisis committee said Wednesday the goal was to "liberate" the region from the TPLF.&nbsp;

Abiy said the initial "attack" produced "many martyrs", but officials have not provided much information on subsequent military operations.

Fighting so far appears to have been largely concentrated in western Tigray, diplomats and aid workers said.

Wondimu, the TPLF official, reiterated the TPLF's claim that the military's Northern Command had broken with Abiy -- a claim dismissed as false by Abiy's office.

"The Northern Command has voluntarily started to cooperate with Tigray to save the country from an all-out civil war," Wondimu said.&nbsp;

He also said there were "no civilian casualties and only a few skirmishes with a few soldiers who have not respected the decision of their commanders".

"I am at work like anyone else in Mekele," he said, referring to the regional capital.&nbsp;

The fighting in Tigray has drawn expressions of concern from the UN, the US and the EU.

An official at the African Union told AFP Thursday that the body, headquartered in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, was reaching out to "all actors" to try to bring a swift end to the conflict.

"The African Union is engaged in shuttle diplomacy in the region and with all actors at the moment to try to find some sort of solution. But it's clearly very sensitive right now," the official said.

"I know that everybody is clamouring for public pronouncements. The situation is so dire that it's really about the doing. A solution is not going to be found on Twitter."&nbsp;

The TPLF dominated politics in Ethiopia for nearly three decades before Abiy came to power in 2018 on the strength of anti-government protests.&nbsp;

Under Abiy, Tigrayan leaders have complained of being unfairly targeted in corruption prosecutions, removed from top positions and broadly scapegoated for the country's woes.&nbsp;

In previous weeks, tensions had been rising over control of military assets in the region.

Ethiopian lawmakers on Thursday endorsed a six-month state of emergency in the northern region of Tigray, a day after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered military operations there in an escalation of a long-running feud.

Ethiopian lawmakers on Thursday endorsed a six-month state of emergency in the northern region of Tigray, a day after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered military operations there in an escalation of a long-running feud. The move is part of an attempt by Abiy, winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, to assert federal control over a region whose ruling party has openly defied him for months and brands him as illegitimate. Also read: Ethiopia declares state of emergency in Tigray region The lower house of parliament "unanimously approved" the state of emergency in a session Thursday morning, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate said. According to the country's constitution, under a state of emergency the government has "all necessary power to protect the country's peace and sovereignty" and can suspend some "political and democratic rights". A senior government official told AFP that in Tigray this could lead to a curfew, searches without warrants, transportation and communications restrictions and the detention of "any person that [officials] suspect is taking part in illegal activities that threaten the constitutional order". The state of emergency could also be extended beyond Tigray if needed, the official said. Ahead of Thursday's vote, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the national rights body, pointed to the need to maintain key services and supplies for civilians. Lawmakers "should in particular consider ensuring humanitarian access and support including for food, medicine and other essential civilian services to avoid a complete blockage of communication and transport facilities," it said. TPLF denies 'attack' Abiy announced the military operations in Tigray Wednesday morning. He said the move came in response to an "attack" by the region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), on a military camp there. But a senior Tigrayan official told AFP Thursday that the "attack" never happened. "No attack was launched by us," said the official, Wondimu Asamnew. Speaking on state television Wednesday night, Abiy said there would be further operations in the "coming days". "In general, when the operations are finished we will disclose them to the public," he said. The government has not revealed a timeline or a clear military objective for the campaign, though a spokesman for a newly-formed crisis committee said Wednesday the goal was to "liberate" the region from the TPLF. Abiy said the initial "attack" produced "many martyrs", but officials have not provided much information on subsequent military operations. Fighting so far appears to have been largely concentrated in western Tigray, diplomats and aid workers said. Wondimu, the TPLF official, reiterated the TPLF's claim that the military's Northern Command had broken with Abiy -- a claim dismissed as false by Abiy's office. "The Northern Command has voluntarily started to cooperate with Tigray to save the country from an all-out civil war," Wondimu said. He also said there were "no civilian casualties and only a few skirmishes with a few soldiers who have not respected the decision of their commanders". "I am at work like anyone else in Mekele," he said, referring to the regional capital. The fighting in Tigray has drawn expressions of concern from the UN, the US and the EU. An official at the African Union told AFP Thursday that the body, headquartered in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, was reaching out to "all actors" to try to bring a swift end to the conflict. "The African Union is engaged in shuttle diplomacy in the region and with all actors at the moment to try to find some sort of solution. But it's clearly very sensitive right now," the official said. "I know that everybody is clamouring for public pronouncements. The situation is so dire that it's really about the doing. A solution is not going to be found on Twitter." The TPLF dominated politics in Ethiopia for nearly three decades before Abiy came to power in 2018 on the strength of anti-government protests. Under Abiy, Tigrayan leaders have complained of being unfairly targeted in corruption prosecutions, removed from top positions and broadly scapegoated for the country's woes. In previous weeks, tensions had been rising over control of military assets in the region.

Ethiopia MPs back state of emergency in Tigray amid military campaign

Two days of protests have left at least 81 people dead in&nbsp;Ethiopia, a police chief said Wednesday, after the murder of a popular singer from the country's largest ethnic group stoked tensions that threaten to derail the country's democratic transition.

The military was deployed in the&nbsp;Ethiopian capital on Wednesday, as armed gangs roamed neighbourhoods in a second day of unrest&nbsp;that has&nbsp;deepened political divisions in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's political heartland.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-52-killed-in-ethiopia-protests-over-singers-death-309893">At least 52 killed in Ethiopia protests over singer's death</a>

Hachalu Hundessa, whose political songs gave voice to the Oromo's longstanding sense of marginalisation, was shot dead on Monday night.

Angry protests broke out in Addis Ababa and the region of Oromia which surrounds it, the heartland of the Oromo people who have long complained of oppression at the hands of smaller ethnic groups in the diverse country of 100 million people.

<img alt="Protest" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8a0d6e15-c428-4339-9e95-d91f9a063a6a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2879%29_2.jpg" />

Smoke rises over Addis Ababa skyline during protests following the fatal shooting of the&nbsp;Ethiopian musician Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, in Addis Ababa,&nbsp;Ethiopia| REUTERS

"So far 81 people have been killed, including three Oromia special police force members," Ararsa Merdasa, the Oromia police chief, said on Wednesday in a televised press briefing.

On Wednesday the worst violence took place in Hachalu's hometown of Ambo, west of Addis Ababa.

At the core of the anger was Oromo nationalists' desire to see Hachalu buried in Addis Ababa, historically at the heart of their territory, from where they feel they have been displaced.

It was a plan by the federal government to expand the capital into surrounding Oromia which kickstarted years of anti-government protests which swept Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to power in 2018, as the first Oromo to hold the post.&nbsp;

Oromia police chief Ararsa said "there was a grenade attack on the family home of Hachalu Hundessa in Ambo. That grenade attack killed his uncle and injured two police officers."

He urged the public to be calm ahead of the funeral.

Ambo spokesman Milkessa Beyene said that Hachalu's body had arrived in the town for burial on Thursday but "a group of youths who wanted the funeral to happen in Addis Ababa clashed with security forces, causing unrest."

He said there were "fatalities", including Hachalu's uncle.

Two days of protests have left at least 81 people dead in Ethiopia, a police chief said Wednesday, after the murder of a popular singer from the country's largest ethnic group stoked tensions that threaten to derail the country's democratic transition.

Two days of protests have left at least 81 people dead in Ethiopia, a police chief said Wednesday, after the murder of a popular singer from the country's largest ethnic group stoked tensions that threaten to derail the country's democratic transition. The military was deployed in the Ethiopian capital on Wednesday, as armed gangs roamed neighbourhoods in a second day of unrest that has deepened political divisions in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's political heartland. Also read: At least 52 killed in Ethiopia protests over singer's death Hachalu Hundessa, whose political songs gave voice to the Oromo's longstanding sense of marginalisation, was shot dead on Monday night. Angry protests broke out in Addis Ababa and the region of Oromia which surrounds it, the heartland of the Oromo people who have long complained of oppression at the hands of smaller ethnic groups in the diverse country of 100 million people. Smoke rises over Addis Ababa skyline during protests following the fatal shooting of the Ethiopian musician Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia| REUTERS "So far 81 people have been killed, including three Oromia special police force members," Ararsa Merdasa, the Oromia police chief, said on Wednesday in a televised press briefing. On Wednesday the worst violence took place in Hachalu's hometown of Ambo, west of Addis Ababa. At the core of the anger was Oromo nationalists' desire to see Hachalu buried in Addis Ababa, historically at the heart of their territory, from where they feel they have been displaced. It was a plan by the federal government to expand the capital into surrounding Oromia which kickstarted years of anti-government protests which swept Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to power in 2018, as the first Oromo to hold the post. Oromia police chief Ararsa said "there was a grenade attack on the family home of Hachalu Hundessa in Ambo. That grenade attack killed his uncle and injured two police officers." He urged the public to be calm ahead of the funeral. Ambo spokesman Milkessa Beyene said that Hachalu's body had arrived in the town for burial on Thursday but "a group of youths who wanted the funeral to happen in Addis Ababa clashed with security forces, causing unrest." He said there were "fatalities", including Hachalu's uncle.

Ethiopia protests: 81 killed in violence after death of singer; military deployed