In a joint statement released on Wednesday, Australia, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands joined Washington and London in calling both warring parties - the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces - to immediately stop the fighting and agree a cessation of hostilities.

Violence shattered a five-month truce in August and despite both parties accepting an African Union (AU) invitation for peace talks, fighting has continued to rage with neighbouring Eritrea involved in support of the Ethiopian army - something condemned by the six countries.

“All foreign actors must cease actions that fuel this conflict,” the joint statement said, which also denounced attacks against civilians.

Proposed preliminary talks, scheduled to take place last weekend in South Africa, were delayed due to what were described as logistical reasons.

It’s not clear when they will happen.

The six countries further urged the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces to “pursue [a] negotiated settlement” under an AU-led process, adding that warring sides must recognise “there’s no military solution to the conflict”.

Neither the government nor Tigrayan forces have yet responded to the statement.

Tank in Tigray