December 19 2006 at 01:37AM
By Ange Aboa
Abidjan - Diamonds are still being smuggled out of war-divided Ivory Coast via Mali and Ghana in violation of a United Nations embargo despite rebel assertions to the contrary, according to a UN report.
UN experts identified Malian nationals who had been buying gems in the town of Seguela, which lies in the rebel-held north of Ivory Coast, and had observed "intensive mining" in the area during an aerial survey in November.
"The identification of these Malian buyers further underlines the significant smuggling of Ivorian diamonds to Mali in violation of United Nations sanctions," the group of experts said in a report to the UN Security Council.
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