Abiy Gives TPLF 72 Hours to Surrender before Army's Assault

According to Reuters, today, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, gave the leaders and liberation forces of the Tigray Front 72 hours to surrender before the army entered the city of Mekele.

Abiy said in a statement aimed at the leaders of the TPLF party that "You have 72 hours to surrender, otherwise the army will interfere to end this conflict," calling on them "Take this last opportunity."

The Ethiopian army has been fighting local forces in Tigray since the conflict broke out on November 4, after accusing the local forces of assaulting a military base there.

As a result, hundreds of people have been killed and thousands have fled to Sudan.

Also, the blackout of internet and phone services in the region made it difficult to verify the death toll and the reports of violence.