11.   Congo Mining Vice Minister Mbaka Kawaya said Saturday that IDI is welcome now to join other bidders when contracts for diamond exports are offered on the free market.

12.   Diamond exports require a certificate from the state diamond company Endiama or from the Trade Ministry.

13.   Earlier this month, the United Nations imposed sanctions preventing Liberian officials and their spouses from traveling overseas and banning diamond exports.

14.   During the negotiations, the flow of Russian diamond exports was cut to a trickle.

15.   For example, it said the embargo on Liberian diamond exports has prompted dealers to camouflage the stones as originating from neighboring countries.

16.   Goodridge says tens of thousands of workers have been put out of work by the ban on diamond exports and prices for key food items have gone up.

17.   He also requested U.N. monitoring of Liberian airports and diamond exports.

18.   In an attempt to strangle the rebel war effort, the United Nations has an arms and fuel embargo on UNITA and a ban on rebel diamond exports.

19.   In recent days, Liberia has expelled Sierra Leone rebels, grounded all Liberian aircraft and requested U.N. monitoring of its airports and diamond exports, he said.

20.   It has banned diamond exports by rebels in Angola and Sierra Leone and called for similar action in Congo.