Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis: Debretsion Gebremichael vows to fight on

The leader of Ethiopia’s Tigray region has rejected the prime minister’s ultimatum to surrender by Wednesday and has pledged to fight on in the conflict engulfing the north of the country.

Debretsion Gebremichael denied federal government claims that the regional capital, Mekelle, was surrounded.

Hundreds have reportedly been killed and tens of thousands have fled in nearly three weeks of fighting.

The UN has warned it could trigger a humanitarian crisis.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday announced a 72-hour deadline for the region’s fighters to surrender, and the army warned Mekelle’s 500,000 residents that soldiers would “encircle” the city and attack it.