THE HAGUE: A war crimes court will allow prosecutors to call supermodel NAOMI CAMPBELL to testify over a "blood diamond" she was allegedly given by Liberian ex-president CHARLES TAYLOR, it said yesterday.
Actress MIA FARROW could also be called to the stand over claims that Campbell was given the rough diamond by Taylor after a dinner hosted by former South African president NELSON MANDELA in September 1997.
"The trial chamber hereby grants the motion" filed by prosecutors in May seeking permission to call Campbell, Farrow, and the model's former agent CAROLE WHITE to the stand, said a decision by the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
Campbell has refused to give evidence on the matter, but Farrow and White, both present at the dinner, were willing to do so.
The prosecution alleges the rough diamond was among those Taylor had obtained from Sierra Leone rebels and took to South Africa "to sell ... or exchange them from weapons".
Taylor, 62, has been on trial in The Hague since January 2008 on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from the 1991-2001 civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
He is accused of having fuelled war there by arming the rebel RUF in exchange for "blood diamonds".
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