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Ethiopian PM Calls Extraordinary Session of Parliament as Tigray Conflict
Continues

VOA News

   Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmedcalled anextraordinary session
   oftheparliamenton Monday, while the conflict
   inthecountry'snorthernTigray regioncontinues.

   Late Sunday,Reutersreported that theleader of the Tigray People's
   Liberation Front (TPLF)DebretsionGebremichaelclaimedinatext message to
   the new agency thatTigray forceshadshot downanEthiopian planeand
   hadtakenatownform the federal forces.

   There hasnot been any immediate commentto such claims from the
   government or the military.

   Inarelated development,the U.S.Embassy in Eritrea saidthatsix
   explosions were heardovernightin the capital, Asmara.

   The explosions came hours after Abiy declared victoryin the offensive
   of the government forces against TPLFand the army said it had taken
   "full control" oftheTigraycapital Mekelle.

   However, government sourcessaid TPLF leaders remainedon the run.

   Abiy said Saturday that Mekelle had been "captured," after giving
   forces of TPLF a 72-hour ultimatum to surrender to the national
   government.Abiy announced a military offensive against the regional
   government in Tigray on November 4, saying it was in response to an
   attack by Tigray forces on a federal military base.

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