ADDIS ABABA, Jan 8 (Reuters) - An airstrike in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray killed 56 people and wounded at least 30, two aid workers told Reuters on Saturday, citing local authorities and eyewitness accounts.

The strike hit a camp for displaced people in the town of Dedebit in the northwest of the region, near the border with Eritrea, the aid workers said.

The aid workers, who asked not to be named, said the number of dead has been confirmed by the local authorities.

Military spokesman Colonel Getnet Adane and government spokesman Legesse Tulu did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The government has previously denied targeting civilians in the 14-month conflict with rebellious Tigrayan forces.

The strike in the town of Dedebit, in the northwest of the region near the border with Eritrea, occurred late on Friday night, said the aid workers, who asked not to be named as they are not authorised to speak to the media.

Earlier on Friday, the government had freed several opposition leaders from prison and said it would begin dialogue with political opponents in order to foster reconciliation.