By Editorial,
Fighting has erupted in the historic Ethiopian town of Lalibela, as government forces and local militia have clashed, residents told the BBC.
Lalibela is home to 13th Century churches that are registered as Unesco world heritage sites.
Fano, a militia in the surrounding Amhara region, has been battling the army since it was ordered to disband.
Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu has disputed reports of violence in the city, according to Reuters news agency.
But witnesses told the BBC that fighting was intense and a plane due to land at the airport yesterday failed to do so.
The Amhara region around Lalibela has been a battleground between the Fano militia and the military for several months.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government imposed a six-month state of emergency in early August to try to stop the clashes. END