Zimbabwe paper says US is trying to stop Zimbabwe from selling its diamonds internationally

Zimbabwe paper: US trying to stop diamond sales

HARARE, Zimbabwe — A newspaper loyal to Zimbabwe’s ruling party is accusing the U.S. of trying to stop international sales of Zimbabwean diamonds.

The Sunday Mail quotes an e-mail from a U.S. State Department official urging the international diamond control body to ban Zimbabwean diamonds. The paper calls it “a well-orchestrated Western-led campaign” against the regime of President Robert Mugabe.

An official from the international diamond control body, Abbey Chikane, claims documents — possibly including the quoted e-mail — were stolen from his luggage by Zimbabwean security agents earlier this week.

Kimberley Process investigators have previously recommended Zimbabwe’s suspension over their findings of illicit trading and human rights abuses.