Zimbabwe gets go-ahead to sell some diamonds

Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada say in a Friday statement that they welcome the agreement's condition that Zimbabwe make "measurable improvements" in its diamond-mining practices if they want to sell more than the two batches allowed by Thursday's agreement. The rights groups are calling for more controls in the months ahead.
A last-minute deal at a meeting of the Kimberley Process certification scheme in Russia has authorized Zimbabwe to sell two batches of diamonds under strict monitoring and regulation through Sept. 1.