The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has expressed "grave concern" over the "deadly hostilities between the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) and the Fano armed group in the Amhara Regional State".

In recent weeks the national army and Fano have been involved in heavy clashes in Amhara.

This has led to drastic action, such as the Israeli government evacuating its citizens and Jewish people from the area last week.

The EHCR has called on "conflicting parties to immediately end" all alleged violations of human rights laws.

It added that it "continues to monitor" the situation.

As we reported earlier, there were reports that dozens of protesters were killed in the region by an army drone - although the BBC could not independently verify this.

The EHCR also cites the use of "heavy artillery" resulting in the "deaths and injuries" of civilians and damage to property.

Richard Hamilton
BBC World Service Newsroom

An Ethiopian army drone has bombed protesters, killing dozens of people.

The privately owned Ethiopian Media Services reports that at least 70 people were killed.

However, BBC Amharic estimates that figure is lower. Hospital sources who spoke to the BBC said at least 26 people were killed and more than 70 were injured by the air strike on Sunday.

Air strikes reportedly hit the demonstrators, who had gathered in the town of Finote Selam in protest against plans by federal forces to enter the area.

The BBC has not been able to verify the claims and there's been no comment yet from the government in Addis Ababa.

The army and a militia group, called Fano, have been involved in heavy clashes across the Amhara region in recent weeks.

The militia had refused to disarm, prompting the federal government to deploy the army.

Image source, Getty Images

Niger's military leaders have announced plans to prosecute the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, for alleged "high treason" and "undermining the security of the country", after toppling his democratically elected government in last month's coup.

In a statement read out on national television, the army spokesman Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane said they had been gathering evidence against the deposed leader and what they claimed were his "local and foreign accomplices".

Mr Bazoum and his family have been held in the basement of his palace in Niger's capital Niamey since the military seized power in late July.

Attempts to resolve the crisis through dialogue with the regional bloc Ecowas have so far been unsuccessful.

The latest announcement comes as a surprise as it comes hours after the junta expressed their wish to pursue diplomacy to try and solve the crisis in the country.

On Sunday, the head of a religious delegation of mediators said the head of the junta, Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani, was ready to consider a diplomatic solution with Ecowas.

In a statement Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, the leader of Nigeria’s Izala Salafist Movement, said Gen Tchiani had said "their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter".

It also said Gen Tchiani apologised for shunning the previous Ecowas delegates.

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