At least 64 people have been killed and 180 injured during an Ethiopian air strike on a market in the war-torn region of Tigray, according to a local health official.
"The air strike was in the market place, and many people were injured," Mulu Atsbaha, Tigray district administration adviser, said on Thursday.
Tuesday's strike in Togoga left 180 injured, Mulu added.
He said the payment was collected from people living in the city of Togoga, 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of the provincial capital Mekele, and "confirmed by local leaders".
An Ethiopian army spokesman said on Thursday that troops had carried out Togoga's attack, but said rebel forces were the target.
"We do not accept that the campaign was aimed at the people," Col Getnet Adane told AFP, stressing that those injured or killed were not "wearing civilian clothes".
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But survivors and health workers described an explosion in the air that hit a busy market above the trade, killing and injuring scores of people, including children.
The United Nations has called for an immediate investigation into the strike.
The attack came during a vote count following Monday's national election in Ethiopia. However, the Tigray conflict meant that no vote was held there, and the region has been embroiled in controversy over the past few days.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops to Tigray in November to oust the disputed regional leadership, promising immediate victory.
But about eight months later, the fighting continues, creating a UN humanitarian crisis warning 350,000 people on the brink of starvation.
"The air strike was in the market place, and many people were injured," Mulu Atsbaha, Tigray district administration adviser, said on Thursday.
Tuesday's strike in Togoga left 180 injured, Mulu added.
He said the payment was collected from people living in the city of Togoga, 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of the provincial capital Mekele, and "confirmed by local leaders".
An Ethiopian army spokesman said on Thursday that troops had carried out Togoga's attack, but said rebel forces were the target.
"We do not accept that the campaign was aimed at the people," Col Getnet Adane told AFP, stressing that those injured or killed were not "wearing civilian clothes".
But survivors and health workers described an explosion in the air that hit a busy market above the trade, killing and injuring scores of people, including children.
The United Nations has called for an immediate investigation into the strike.
The attack came during a vote count following Monday's national election in Ethiopia. However, the Tigray conflict meant that no vote was held there, and the region has been embroiled in controversy over the past few days.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops to Tigray in November to oust the disputed regional leadership, promising immediate victory.
But about eight months later, the fighting continues, creating a UN humanitarian crisis warning 350,000 people on the brink of starvation.
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