Diamond body ducks calls to suspend Zimbabwe

Civil society groups which are part of the process had demanded the suspension of Zimbabwe's international diamond trade.

A global scheme to ban trade in conflict diamonds on Thursday adopted a "work plan" for Zimbabwe, despite calls for the country to be suspended over rights abuses in its gem fields.

- Zimbabwe is not suspended as was proposed, a joint work plan was adopted by this plenary meeting - said outgoing chair of the Kimberley Process (KP) and Namibian deputy mining minister Bernard Esau late Thursday.

A KP review mission in July recommended a six-month suspension of Zimbabwe over human rights abuses alleged by the army against civilians in the eastern Marange diamond fields.

Zimbabwe had - until June 2010 to implement the work plan - said Esau, who visited the area in September, without giving further details on what the plan entailed.

- It was felt that we should give Zimbabwe the opportunity to address issues of compliance to remove like removing the military from the Marange diamond fields - he said.

- If Zimbabwe is not compliant at the next review meeting in June 2010, the KP will have to think of other measures, but let us give them a chance. -

In a joint communique issued at the end of the four-day meeting, the 37 participating members which attended welcomed - Zimbabwe's commitment to urgently start implementation of the joint work plan. -

The communique called on KP participants to ensure compliance with the system's certification scheme in Zimbabwe and to apply vigilance measures to contain illicit trade of Marange diamonds.

- The work plan was adopted by all parties attending the plenary, including Zimbabwe - Esau told reporters.

Civil society groups which are part of the process had demanded the suspension of Zimbabwe's international diamond trade.