Officials count ballots after Ethiopia's election, new fighting reported in Tigray

Election officials empty a ballot box during the Ethiopian parliamentary and regional elections, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. [Reuters]

Officials in Ethiopia counted ballots on Tuesday after a parliamentary election billed as the first free vote in the country's history but marred by an opposition boycott, war and reports of irregularities in some areas.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hopes the national and regional elections will show the success of democratic reforms he launched after being appointed by the ruling coalition in 2018.