Ethiopia declares state of emergency

Ethiopia has announced a state of emergency after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his intention to step down amid unrest and a political crisis in the Horn of Africa country.

The ruling EPRDF coalition's council met on Friday and decided to impose emergency rule, the state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said.

The announcement did not say how long the rule would be in place.

The prime minister's resignation on Thursday followed a wave of strikes and demonstrations successfully demanding the release of more opposition leaders.

More than 6000 political prisoners have been freed since January as the government has struggled to placate discontent.