Dozens of people were killed in fighting during a foiled coup by a rogue state militia in Ethiopia¡¯s Amhara region over the weekend, the regional government spokesman said on Wednesday, the first official report of significant clashes.

The militia attacked the police headquarters, ruling party headquarters and president¡¯s office ¡ª where they executed three top officials ¡ª in Amhara¡¯s regional capital of Bahir Dar on Saturday, Asemahagh Aseres told Reuters on the sidelines of a state burial for the officials who were killed.

The militia was a recently formed unit of the region¡¯s security services. It had appealed for others to join its takeover were rebuffed, Asemahagh said.