Army fends off rebels

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s army has managed to repulse attacks by a rebel political party in the northern Tigray region, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says, after declaring a state of emergency there.

Abiy had announced on Wednesday he was sending soldiers in after an attack on an army base by the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation

Front (TPLF), sparking fears of civil war.

In a televised address, Abiy said: ‘‘The army not only repulsed the attacks but has managed to control important and key locations.’’

He did not mention any casualties or whether fighting was ongoing but added that the Government would ‘‘conduct more operations in the coming days’’. — AAP