ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ethnic clashes in Ethiopia's Amhara regional state, located in the northern part of the country, has left six people dead, local authorities said on Friday.

In a press statement, Bati Locality Communications Bureau of Amhara regional state, said the clashes were between ethnic Oromo and ethnic Afar communities on Thursday evening.

The statement said four of the dead were civilians while the other two were soldiers sent to the conflict area to help restore peace. The two soldiers were killed after they were caught up in the crossfire of clashes between the two ethnic communities.

According to the statement, the deadly ethnic clashes left another six people injured. Local and federal government officials are currently on the scene trying to mediate between members of ethnic Oromo and Afar communities to prevent a recurrence of the Thursday violence.

In recent years, increasing scarcity of grazing and agricultural lands exacerbated by erratic weather conditions has caused occasional deadly clashes between ethnic Oromo and ethnic Afar communities in the area.