12 Aug 2010

Diamond sale held by Zimbabwe

11:46 am on 12 August 2010

Zimbabwe has held the first sale of diamonds from its Marange fields since the lifting of a ban in trading in blood diamonds.

The Kimberley Process suspended the diamond exports in November in response to accusations of atrocities committed by the military at the mine.

But last month, it ruled that abuses had ceased and said Zimbabwe could resume limited exports.

Diamonds from the field could generate $US1.7 billion per year.