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 Lebanons Economy and threatening Essential Services. 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 year, president abiy Ahmeds 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 ethiopias 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 peoples liberation front. Are you now prepared to say that your Government Strategy has gone dis
That was forced upon us. It was not a conflict that we got into by our own volition and willingness, so thats how we see the situation. We, you havent 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 theyve 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 cost and
My guest is ethiopias Attorney General, gedion timothewos. Is his government leading the country to disaster . Gedion timothewos in addis ababa, welcome to hardtalk. Thanks for having me. Its 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 Peoples Liberation Front. Are you now prepared to say that your Governments 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 thats how we see the situation. Well, you havent answered my question because since the
Welcome to hardtalk, im stephen sackur. The humanitarian crisis in northern ethiopia is worsening as conflict continues on multiple fronts. Tigrayan rebel forces have won a string of victories over the ethiopian military. Ethiopias Prime Minister now says all of the states Military Resources will be deployed to halt the rebels. My guest is getachew reda, spokesman for the tigray Peoples Liberation Front. With the Death Toll rising and man made famine taking hold, what is the endgame for tigray s rebels . Getachew reda in mekelle, tigray, welcome to hardtalk. My pleasure. Let me ask you this we see the terrible suffering that millions of people are experiencing in your region as a result of, what, 8 9 months of conflict . Why is it that your side, the tigray Peoples Liberation Front, appears intent on intensifying the fighting rather than ending it . Well, its exactly the same reason why we took up arms and tried to liberate our people from the Suffering Youve alluded to. In fact, we do