Ethiopian region calls for citizen mobilisation

The president of Ethiopia's Amhara region has called on all residents holding arms to mobilise against rebels from neighbouring Tigray.

"Starting from tomorrow [Monday], I call on all people of age who are armed either at governmental or private level to mobilise for a survival campaign," Agegnehu Teshager is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

The call to arms from Mr Agegnehu follows a similar statement on Friday by the leader of Ethiopia's Afar region, leading to fears that the eight-month-long conflict in Tigray could spread.

A spokesman for Tigrayan rebels has vowed they will - as he put it - liberate every square inch of Tigray, which includes disputed areas that have been occupied by Amhara forces since the beginning of the war.

This article was originally published by BBC News. [Photo: Eduardo Soteras/AFP]