Ethiopia’s military has warned civilians in the besieged Tigray regional capital it will have “no mercy” if they don’t “save themselves” before a final attack to flush out defiant regional leaders.

“From now on, the fighting will be a tank battle,” spokesman Colonel Deje ne Tsegaye said, claiming the army was marching on the Tigray capital of Mekele and would encircle it with tanks.

“Our people in Mekele should be notified that they should protect themselves from heavy artillery.”