France, Oct. 2 -- Ethiopia announced on Thursday that it was closing its embassy in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, and expelling 10 Eritrean diplomats suspected of activities posing "a direct threat to national security".

Citing "hostile and warlike acts", Addis Ababa gave the diplomats 48 hours to leave.

"Eritrea has no option but to reciprocate in kind and sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia," the Eritrean foreign ministry said hours later, describing the expulsion of its ambassador as "astounding".

Ethiopian federal forces are battling an alliance of armed groups that includes the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Amhara Fano National Movement, whose fighters backed the federal government against the TPLF during the...