The TPLF agreed a peace deal with government last November, signed in South Africa, to end a brutal two-year civil war.

That pact set up an interim administration in Tigray, which could only govern for between six months and a year, Mr Debretsion said in a post on Facebook.

"On the basis of self-rule, we have to go to elections immediately," Mr Debretsion said, adding that the interim administration had "to complete its task within that time and transfer whatever remained".

He stressed that the people of Tigray had to be led by leaders of their own choice.

"What has been there [presumably the TPLF leadership structure] has been destroyed for the sake of peace.

"The people of Tigray have to be led by people of their own choice. Even TPLF should not govern."

There has been no comment yet from the interim administration on the comments by the TPLF chairman.