* Online clips of Ethiopian general, mayor on social media* Ethiopia, Eritrea have denied Eritrean troops in Tigray* A dozen witnesses have said Eritreans are presentNAIROBI, Jan 7 (Reuters) - A senior Ethiopian general said in a video clip posted on social media this week that Eritrean troops had entered the country uninvited while his soldiers were battling a rebellious force in the northern region of Tigray. The video, whose authenticity Reuters could not independently verify, shows Major General Belay Seyoum addressing a meeting in the Tigrayan capital Mekelle in late December. Both nations have denied any involvement by Eritrean troops inside Tigray, but the U.S. State Department said last month it believed reports of their presence were credible. The backdrop and position of eight microphones in that clip of Belay matched the video of the general circulating on social media this week. In another video posted on social media this week, Ataklti Haileselassie, the new government-appointed mayor of Mekelle, appears to discuss Eritrean troops entering Tigray.

Source: Ethiopian News January 07, 2021 17:26 UTC