 The U.S. State Department says it is gravely concerned by the expansion of fighting between Ethiopia's government forces and three grain rebels in the north of the country. Washington reiterated its call for the Tigray People's Liberation Front to withdraw from the Amhara and Afar regions and halt its advances in and around other cities. The Ethiopian government has denied a claim from the TPLF earlier on Saturday that the rebels are taking control of Desi. The city is just under 400 kilometers from the capital, Addis Ababa.