Hello, this is Bbc News with martine croxall. The headlines. The final Uk Flight to evacuate civilians from afghanistan has left kabul. The Ministry Of Defence says further flights will bring Home Uk diplomatic staff and military personnel. The us military says one of its drones has taken out an islamic State Group Planner, following Thursdays Attack which killed as many as 170 people at kabul airport. Concerns about rising Covid Infection rates as large crowds are expected to flock to beaches and festivals over the Bank Holiday weekend. Members of the scottish greens have backed a deal that will the see the party enter government in the uk the first time. Two World Records for the british Cycling Couple Husband and wife, Lora And Neil fachie who are amongst seven gb paralympians to win gold today. Now on Bbc News, hardtalk. Welcome to hardtalk, im stephen sackur. Months of conflict in Northern Ethiopia have Cost Thousands of lives and brought Hunger And Fear to millions. Late last yea
On iranian exports. Petrol shortages are paralysing much of lebanon s economy and threatening essential services. Now on bbc news, hardtalk. Welcome to hardtalk, i m stephen sackur. Months of conflict in northern ethiopia have cost thousands of lives and brought hunger and fear to millions. Late last year, president abiy ahmed s government seemed confident of crushing tigrayan forces. That confidence was misplaced the war has spread. Both the addis government and the rebels stand accused of horrifying war crimes. My guest is ethiopia s attorney general, gedion timothewos. Is his government leading the country to disaster? gedion timothewos in addis ababa, welcome to hardtalk. Thanks for having me. It is a pleasure to have you, mr attorney general. When we last spoke to each other, nearly nine months ago, you seemed very confident that your government was about to crush the forces of the tigray people s liberation front. Are you now prepared to say that your government strategy has go
That was forced upon us. It was not a conflict that we got into by our own volition and willingness, so that s how we see the situation. We, you haven t answered my question, because since then and your forces did take mekele since then things have gone very wrong. Yourforces left mekele injune, and since then the tplf the tigrayan rebel forces have retaken much of tigray from your national army, but they ve also moved into the neighbouring regions of amhara and afar. They hold much more territory now, so what s gone wrong? when we were holding mekele and when our forces were in tigray, there were constant issues that were being raised about the humanitarian access, the humanitarian situation. We wanted to improve the humanitarian situation, and we were also concerned by the fact that the tplf was sending wave after wave of civilians against our troops. There was an extensive use of child soldiers by the tplf. Under these circumstances, to mitigate and minimise the humanitarian
My guest is ethiopia s attorney general, gedion timothewos. Is his government leading the country to disaster? gedion timothewos in addis ababa, welcome to hardtalk. Thanks for having me. It s a pleasure to have you, mr attorney general. Now, when we last spoke to each other nearly nine months ago, you seemed very confident that your government was about to crush the forces of the tigray people s liberation front. Are you now prepared to say that your government s strategy has gone disastrously wrong? mr sackur, as i have stated back then, we are in a position to retake mekelle and we are able to finalise the initial phase of the operation within a matter of three weeks. We took over mekelle. We established an interim administration. We invested on rehabilitating tigray and remember, it was a conflict that was forced upon us. It was not a conflict that we got into by our own volition and willingly. So that s how we see the situation. Well, you haven t answered my question because since
politicsnation. we are following a breaking news story, a suspected chinese surveillance balloon has been shot down off of the carolina coast, just a few hours ago. the president confirming that he gave the order earlier this week but the military waited until the balloon could be down safety the government is now collecting the balloons remains from u.s. waters. the news comes after the faa partially shut down airspace and the region earlier today. we are bringing the latest on this breaking news story as details a marriage. and i have talked to the ranking democrat on the house intelligence committee about whether americans should be worried. that isn t just a minute but first, tonight s lead, boosting black voices. right, now democrats are gaming out with the next two years will look like for the party as expected earlier today. the dnc voted to reorder democrats presidential primary schedule. elevating south carolina to lead off of that schedule. with other racially div