Ethiopia tells civilians to ‘save yourselves’ as troops advance toward Tigray capital Mekelle

Ethiopian civilians have been urged to “save themselves” as advancing federal troops plan to surround the capital of the restive Tigray region with tanks in a bid to force opposition forces to surrender.

But the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which is refusing to surrender its rule of the northern region, said its forces were digging trenches and standing firm.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s federal troops have taken a string of towns during aerial bombardments and…