The fight against conflict diamonds was stepped up a gear on Thursday as the Kimberley Process, the UN-backed initiative to curb the illegal trade in rough gems, approved two key recommendations at its annual meeting.

“Until now the focus has been on mining centres but now the controls are being widened and intensified” to trading and manufacturing centres, Karel Kovanda, KP chair, said on Thursday. “This is one of the most significant decisions the KP has ever taken.”