8216;US trying to stop diamond sales8217;

The African country is in the midst of a new row now. A newspaper loyal to Zimbabwe8217;s ruling party is accusing the U.S. of trying to stop international sales of Zimbabwean diamonds.

The Sunday Mail quotes an e-mail from a U.S. State Department official urging the international diamond control body to ban Zimbabwean diamonds. The paper calls it 8220;a well-orchestrated Western-led campaign8221; against the regime of President Robert Mugabe.

An official from the international diamond control body,Abbey Chikane,claims documents 8211; possibly including the quoted e-mail 8211; were stolen from his luggage by Zimbabwean security agents earlier this week.

Kimberley Process investigators have previously recommended Zimbabwe8217;s suspension over their findings of illicit trading and human rights abuses.