CAIRO, Nov 2: The Ethiopian cabinet declared on Tuesday a nationwide state of emergency after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) got hold of two strategic cities and advanced towards the capital city of Addis Ababa. The decision was made after the cabinet debated the latest developments of the conflict in the northern region of Tigray, the Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported, citing the Ethiopian Fana radio.

Ethiopian ministers of justice and government communication will make a joint press briefing on the latest developments later today, according to the report. The parliament is expected to approve the government declaration of state of emergency within 24 hours. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and senior government officials discussed the situation yesterday one day after the TPLF forces stormed Dessie and Kombolcha cities in Amhara region, some 300 km. to the northeast of Addis Ababa. (KUNA)