Ethiopia bans flights above Grand Renaissance Dam

Ethiopia's civil aviation authority has banned all flights over a controversial mega-dam being built on a tributary of the River Nile, for security reasons.

Ethiopia sees the $4.8bn (£3.2bn) Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) as crucial for its economic growth.

But it has led to bitter disputes with Egypt and Sudan, both of which are downstream and fear the large dam will greatly reduce their access to water.

It comes a week after Ethiopia's air force warned it was ready to defend it.

Speaking on state television last week Maj-Gen Yilma Merdasa said the air force had modernized its fighter jets and had a "plan A, plan B and so on how to counter an enemy who knowingly or unknowingly attempts to derail this project".

The head of Ethiopia's civil aviation authority told the BBC on Monday that it was common for the country to ban flights above major projects.