Victorious rebel leaders Friday urged relief workers to immediately expand efforts to feed an estimated 7.3 million drought victims, many cut off from aid by the offensive that toppled the government.
In another development, Italy's Foreign Ministry announced Friday that Lt. Gen. Tesfaye Gebre-Kidan, who took over leadership of the country after President Mengistu Haile Mariam fled on May 21, had been given refuge in the Italian Embassy "for humanitarian reasons."Tesfaye, who had led the military effort against the rebels, was in charge of the collapsing government for only one week between Mengistu's departure and the rebel takeover. His whereabouts had been unknown since the takeover.
Amid the upheaval, tens of thousands of Ethiopians have fled to neighboring countries.