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| - Two men working as translators for journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP) and the Financial Times, who are reporting on a military operation in Ethiopia's Tigray region, have been arrested, their relatives said. The men, Fitsum Berhane and Alula Akalu, were detained on Saturday after three days working with the journalists. Both AFP and the Financial Times had obtained permission from the Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority (EBA) and the ministry of peace to report on the conflict in the northern region. Fitsum was arrested after midnight on Saturday morning and taken from his home by soldiers, his relatives told AFP. Alula was arrested at around midday on Saturday by soldiers while having lunch with two friends and their families. A third man, a journalist named Temrat Yemane, was also arrested Saturday in Mekele, the Tigrayan capital. Fitsum and Akalu are being detained at a military college near Mekele University, their families told AFP. Their relatives have not been able to see them and no explanation has been given for the arrest. "They are under investigation. The information we have is that there is already some evidence," said Mulu Nega, the leader of the interim administration in Tigray which was appointed by Addis Ababa. Asked what the investigation was about and what the evidence was he said: "There is no detailed information." AFP and the Financial Times are among seven international media outlets that were granted accreditation after months of difficulty accessing Tigray. "We have not been informed of any specific charges against Fitsum Berhane. His collaboration with a media outlet should not be a motive for his arrest, and we call for his immediate release," said Phil Chetwynd, AFP's global news director, in a statement. The Financial Times said in a brief statement it was taking "all possible steps" to secure the release of the translators. "Our concerns have been raised wth the relevant authorities as we work to understand the reasons for the arrests." Tigray has been the theatre of fighting since early November 2020, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced military operations against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), accusing them of attacking federal army camps. He declared victory after pro-government troops took Mekele in late November, although the TPLF vowed to fight on, and clashes have persisted in the region. During the first weeks of the fighting Tigray was under a total communications blackout, and the internet remains cut off, making it hard to gather information. EBA deputy director general Wondwosen Andualem last week warned international media to report accurately or face consequences. He warned that "the media outlets allowed to travel to Tigray... must work professionally" or there would be "corrective measures." bur-fb/ri
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