During a visit to Senegal, US Secretary of State Anthony Plinkin said Washington was pressing for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Ethiopia.

Plinkin told reporters that his country continued to press for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Ethiopia "without preconditions."

The White House said it had asked American nationals to leave Ethiopia as soon as possible, reflecting the concern of United States policymakers that conflicts in Ethiopia between the central government and Tigray forces in the north could threaten the capital, Addis Ababa.

It is reported that fighting broke out a year ago between the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which dominated political life in Ethiopia, and the federal Government.

RUF accuses the Government of attempting to exercise centralized power at the expense of the Ethiopian Territories, and accuses the Government of seeking to regain its dominance over the country.

Although Government forces have made progress at the beginning of the conflict, things have turned in favour of the Tigray Liberation Front militants in recent months, who are currently advancing towards the capital, Addis Ababa.

The Tigray Liberation Front wants Prime Minister Abu Ahmed to step down from the Government and allow humanitarian access to the Northern Territory.