US President Joe Biden is sending a senator to Ethiopia to raise with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed his grave concerns over the crisis in the northern region of Tigray, the allegations of human rights abuses and the risk of broader instability.
Senator Chris Coons will also consult the African Union.
Last week, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, described the violence in Tigray as ethnic cleansing - this was rejected by Ethiopia.
The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has agreed to carry out a joint investigation on the situation in Tigray with the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Right's Commission.
Source :bbc.com
