Record diamond export
2002-09-01 15:08
Freetown - Nearly five million dollars worth of diamonds, a new record, were exported from Sierra Leone in July, a top offfical with the west African country's mineral resources ministry said on Saturday.
"The value represents a new record in the export of diamonds
from Sierra Leone since the certificate scheme (banning the export of blood diamonds) started in October 2000," Abu Bakarr told a press briefing.
Diamonds, one of the main causes of the country's 10-year civil war, helped to finance arms purchases for the rebels.
A decade of illegal trade in the gemstones, popularly known as
blood diamonds, have helped make Sierre Leone the poorest country in the world. The war officially ended in January of this year.
Abu Bakarr said Sierra Leone had to date this year exported more
than $25m worth of diamonds, versus only $26m worth for the whole of 2001. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA