De Beers supports embargo on SL diamonds

Diamond giant De Beers has given its backing to a British proposal for the UN Security Council to impose world-wide embargo on diamond exports by rebels from Sierra Leone, news reports said on Wednesday. "We support any efforts the United Nations is making to stop the illegal sale of diamonds," De Beers spokeswoman, Tracey Peterson, was quoted as saying. British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who is to visit Freetown later this week was quoted as saying that only diamonds certified as legitimate by the government of Sierra Leone should be traded. "The embargo won't make nay difference to De Beers, we don't buy Sierra Leone diamonds," Peterson added.