Eritrea to withdraw troops from Tigray - Abiy

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says Eritrea has agreed to withdraw its troops from Tigray following a military offensive in the region that drew condemnation.

Mr Abiy earlier this week acknowledged for the first time that Eritrean troops crossed the border after months of denial.

He told MPs that Eritrean forces came fearing they would be attacked by Tigray's regional fighters.

In a statement on Friday, the prime minister said discussions with Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki had resolved that Ethiopian forces will "take over guarding the border areas effective immediately".

Ethiopia and Eritrea will "continue strengthening their bilateral relations and economic cooperation ambitions", he added.

Rights groups allege Eritrean soldiers have committed atrocities in towns like Aksum, which include killing unarmed civilians, raping women and the widespread looting of public and private properties.

Last week, the UN said it would work with the state-linked Ethiopian Human Rights Commission to investigate reports of the indiscriminate killing of civilians and widespread sexual abuse.

This article was originally published by BBC News. [Photo: AFP/Phill Magakoe]