Rough diamond ban for Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast remains divided after its civil war

United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on Ivory Coast have been extended by a year and imports of rough diamonds have been banned.

The UN renewed its arms embargo and said it was prepared to impose travel and financial curbs on individuals threatening the peace process.

The diamond ban is designed to prevent northern rebels acquiring weapons illicitly.

The UN is seriously concerned about the deteriorating situation in Ivory Coast.

The country has been split in two since a failed coup attempt in 2002.

In its resolution, the Security Council said the situation there continued to "pose a threat to international peace and security in the region".

"All states shall take the necessary measures to prevent the import of all rough diamonds from Ivory Coast to their territory," it added.

The country will also now be subjected to the Kimberley Process, an international initiative started in 2002 to prevent the sale of "conflict diamonds" used to fund wars in Angola, Congo, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

President Laurent Gbagbo recently appointed a prime minister, Charles Konan Banny, as part of new efforts to revive the peace process.

About 10,000 French and UN peacekeepers are deployed in Ivory Coast.