The statement also came as Amnesty International, in a separate report, said a mass killing may have hit hundreds of civilians who was stabbed aunt hacked to death.

The rights group said it couldn't independently confirm who was responsible, but that witnesses blamed fighters loyalty T graze local leaders.

Air strikes and ground combat between government forces on the Tigre People's Liberation Front, or TPLF, have sent refugees flooding into neighboring Sudan.

Hundreds have also turned out for a government run blood drive for the wounded.

Abby is claiming victory over his opponents in T.

Gray's west, but the status of the rest of the region is not clear.

With communications down and media barred, Reuters was not able to confirm either side's version of events or Amnesty's reports.

The TPLF says their forces were not involved with the alleged mass killing.

Abbey launched a military offensive in Tigre last week after accusing regional forces of attacking a federal military base to Grains say he has systematically persecuted them since taking office in April 2018 and on Friday.

An internal United Nations report seen by Reuters said that Ethiopian police had visited a World Food Program office requesting a list of all ethnic Tigre and staff in an effort to tighten its grip.

Ethiopia's parliament has also now appointed a new regional president in Tigre on accused the former leader and other officials of treason armed rebellion on terrorism.

Meanwhile, the African Union has dismissed its security chief, who was an Ethiopian national after Abby's government accused him of disloyalty.