Congo cancels Israeli mining deal

The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have cancelled the operations of an Israeli diamond mining company, IDI.

A decree read on state television said the purchasing and exports of diamonds by the company had been stopped.

The trading licence of IDI, which enjoyed monopoly status in Congo, was suspended last month, after it was accused of pushing down the price of diamonds.

Sales of the gem - a major foreign exchange for Congo - dropped to an all time low earlier this year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service