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Tigray Leader: Ethiopian Forces Conducting Offensive to Capture Mekelle

VOA News

   The Tigray regional government said Saturday that Ethiopian government
   forces are already conducting a military offensive to capture the
   regional capital, Mekelle.

   Reuters is reporting that in a text message to the news agency,
   Debretsion Gebremichael, leader of the Tigray People's Liberation Front
   (TPLF), said Mekelle was under "heavy bombardment."

   French news agency AFP said aid workers confirmed heavy shelling hit
   the capital of Tigray.

   Reuters also is quoting Billene Seyoum, a spokeswoman for the Ethiopian
   Prime Minister's office as saying that that Ethiopian forces would not
   "bombard" civilian areas, adding, "the safety of Ethiopians in Mekelle
   and Tigray region continues as priority for the federal government."

   Friday Ethiopia's news agency said Ethiopian forces were advancing in
   several towns near Tigray's regional capital.

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