Civil society urges action on Zimbabwe diamonds

A meeting in Israel of delegates from some 70 countries in the Kimberley Process (KP), a certification scheme set up to monitor diamond trades, will focus on trade in Zimbabwean gems after pressure on the regulatory body to address rights abuses.

"Zimbabwe has been failing to meet the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process for a number of years now and we call on the Kimberley Process to suspend Zimbabwe's membership," said Annie Dunnebacke of British-based industry group, Global Witness.