Reports of massacres and violations ... the Group of Seven calls for the swift and unconditional withdrawal of Eritrean forces from the Tigray region.

The foreign ministers of the G7 countries called for a "rapid, unconditional and verifiable" withdrawal of Eritrean forces from the conflict-ridden Tigray region in northern Ethiopia, according to a joint statement issued in Berlin on Friday.

In the statement - which was published by the German Foreign Ministry - the foreign ministers affirmed that they welcomed "the recent announcement by (Ethiopian) Prime Minister Abiy (Ahmed) regarding the withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Tigray."

The statement called for an end to violence and the start of a clear, inclusive political process acceptable to all Ethiopians, including Tigrayans.

The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, the United States, Canada, Japan and Britain said that this process should lead to "honest elections and a broader national reconciliation process."

And Abiy Ahmed confirmed - after a meeting with Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki at the end of last March - that the Eritrean army would withdraw from Tigray, where it entered after the outbreak of the conflict last November.

The authorities in Asmara and Addis Ababa denied for months the presence of Eritrean forces in the region, and these forces - as well as the Ethiopian army - were accused of committing massacres, rape and looting.

Warning

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven said that they are "very concerned about recent reports of violations and abuses of human rights," calling on the parties involved in this conflict to "take utmost restraint, ensure the protection of civilians, and respect human rights and international law."

The statement stressed that "it is necessary for the reported crimes to be subject to an independent, transparent and impartial investigation, and to hold accountable those responsible for these human rights violations."

For its part, the International Crisis Group warned today, Friday, of the danger of continuing the war in the Tigray region for months or even years, at a time when the two sides are awaiting a "decisive" military strike that appears unrealistic.

The group stated that the resistance is "entrenched" and enjoys popular support from Tigrayans angry at the widespread killings and rape, including those committed by Eritrean soldiers.

The International Crisis Group said in its report that peace talks now seem far-fetched, but has urged the United States, the European Union and the African Union to press for a cessation of hostilities and increased humanitarian access.