Ethiopia rebels dismiss bloodbath fears as crowds rally for army
Demonstrators wave flags during a rally in Addis Ababa where they dismissed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in support of the national defense forces. PHOTO | AFP
Rebels fighting Ethiopia's government have played down reports that they would face a hostile population or cause a "bloodbath" if they advanced into Addis Ababa, even as tens of thousands joined a pro-military rally in the capital on Sunday.
Fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and their allies have been locked in a year-long war with the government that has killed thousands and pushed many more into desperate conditions in the vast east African nation.
