NEW DELHI, Aug 7: Indian diamond Importers will abide by a ban on buying stones originating in conflict-ridden African countries, Commerce Secretary Prabir Sengupta said yesterday, reports AFP.

"Indian traders Importing uncut diamonds will have to declare the stones do not originate from the conflict areas of Sierra Leone. Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo", Sengupta told reporters.

This strategy has been broadly

adopted by the US and other governments, including Britain, and is at the heart of the July 6 UN Security Council resolution which imposed an embargo on trade in diamonds mined from rebel-held areas of Sierra Leone.

"Indian gem exports will not be affected by the ban on conflict diamonds as per the United Nations agreement as the import of rough diamonds into India is sourced through traditional international centres," said Sengupta.

India is the world's largest importer of small-sized rough diamonds, which are cut, polished and exported around the world.

Sengupta said domestic banks would not finance any exporter found to be dealing with "conflict diamonds”.

We have asked the central Reserve Bank of India to take an undertaking from domestic banks that they will not finance traders dealing in conflict diamonds.” Sengupta said.