NEW YORK: The UN human rights chief has called for a full inquiry into possible war crimes in Ethiopia after reports emerged of a massacre of civilians in the Tigray region.

High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet in a statement said if confirmed, the civilian killing have been carried out deliberately, it would mount to war crimes.

Ethiopia's central government had launched a military operation in the northern Tigray Region last week, accusing the Tigray People's Liberation Front of attacking military bases.

Amnesty International said that scores of civilians had been killed by forces backed by the Tigray Region's ruling party.