ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) -The Ethiopian military is again in control of the town of Lalibela, famed for its rock churches, state media reported on Sunday, showing pictures of the deputy prime minister visiting the site. It was unclear when government forces recaptured the town, which has spiritual significance for millions of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and has changed hands several times during a conflict with rebellious forces from northern Tigray province. Tigray troops captured it in August but government forces pushed them back at the beginning of December in an ongoing offensive that has forced the Tigrayans to withdraw hundreds of kilometres. Last Sunday, residents reported that the Tigrayans had retaken the town after the military and its allies withdrew. (Reporting by Addis Ababa newsroom;Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)

Source: Ethiopian News December 19, 2021 19:04 UTC