 Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says there is heavy foreign interference in the continuing talks between the government and Tigray administration but remains hopeful a peace pact will be reached. Abiy, who believes that Ethiopians can solve the matters despite international pressure for a ceasefire, also confirmed the federal army's capture of the Tigray towns of Shire, Azum and Adwa last month from the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front, TPLF. The negotiations, which began on 25 October in South Africa, continued on Monday, although they were initially expected to end on Sunday. Few details have been released on the content and possible progress of the talks, which are aimed at cessation of hostilities requested by the EU and the UN. Since the talks began, fighting has continued in Tigray where federal Ethiopian troops have been advancing since mid-October supported by the Mediterranean army and forces and militias from the neighboring Amahara and Afar regions.