Zimbabwe vows to withdraw army from diamond fields

2009-07-05 14:27:01 -

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Zimbabwe's official newspaper says the coalition government has pledged to withdraw troops from the Marange diamond fields and meet international mining standards.
The government has denied recent allegations by Human Rights Watch that said the troops had killed more than 200 people at the mines while beating villagers and forcing children to search for gems.
The mining ministry said the military was there to secure the area in eastern Zimbabwe.
The Sunday Mail says Mines Minister Obert Mpofu told a fact-finding delegation from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme that the soldiers would be pulled out of the area. The newspaper gave no further details, and officials were not immediately available for comment.