France, Oct. 4 -- The capture of Mekelle, capital of Tigray, deals a major blow to the opposition alliance that rules the northern region.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which leads the alliance, said in a statement posted on Facebook it had retreated from the capital and that the regional government would be "temporarily moved out of Mekelle and operate from somewhere else".

The TPLF launched a fresh offensive against the federal government last month, drawing counterattacks and sparking fears of a return to the devastating civil war of 2020-2022.

As concerns grow that the violence could spread beyond Ethiopia's borders, the presidents of Egypt, Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea were set to meet in the Egyptian city of Alamein ...