Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has appealed to citizens to take up arms to block advancing rebel fighters.

He made the call on Facebook after the rebels, from the northern Tigray state, reportedly seized control of more towns in neighbouring Amhara.

The US has called for a ceasefire in a year-long conflict that has created a humanitarian crisis.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) says its aim is to break a siege of the northern region.

In his statement on Sunday, Mr Abiy said the rebels’ advance was “pushing the country to its demise”.

He urged citizens to “organise and march through [any] legal manner with every weapon and power… to prevent, reverse and bury the terrorist TPLF”, according to a translation on the Addis Standard news site.