Zimbabwe has begun its first authorised sale of diamonds since the lifting of a suspension imposed last November by the Kimberley process which seeks to prevent trade in diamonds during conflict. International buyers joined members of the Government at Harare airport to mark the lifting of the suspension. The Zimbabwe Vice President said, it was an important day for Zimbabwe. But, a local human rigfhts lawyer questioned the decision. She said, not enough has been done to address allegations of abuses by the military at the Marange diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe. Diamonds offered for sale were mined from an area where human rights groups say soldiers killed 1200 people, raped women and forced children into hard labour. Investigators for the world's diamond control body said last year that the gems were mined at the Marange diamond fields by virtual slaves who had been told to dig or die, and were smuggled out by soldiers who raped and beat civilians.