Senate OKs Ban on ‘War’ Diamonds
The Senate unanimously approved a bill Thursday to ban the importing of uncut diamonds that help fund African civil wars.
The legislation is necessary for the U.S. to take part in an international agreement to curb trade in so-called conflict diamonds.
The House passed a nearly identical bill Tuesday, but slight differences in the two pieces of legislation need to be worked out before a bill can be sent to President Bush for his signature.
Diamond-importing and -exporting countries agreed to the pact, known as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, in November after more than two years of negotiations.
The agreement took effect in January. More than 50 countries are participating.
The hope is to track diamonds from mines to stores with the aim of halting trade in uncut stones that rebel groups in Sierra Leone, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo have used to finance wars and commit human rights abuses.
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