Seleka - an alliance of three rebel groups - took Bambari last Sunday having earlier seized the rich diamond mining area around Bria.

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On Sunday, the rebels captured the northern city of Bambari, the third largest in the country, having earlier seized the rich diamond mining area around Bria.

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Angola lies on the western coast of southern Africa, a country of 18 million people living in an oil- and diamond-rich area about twice the size of Texas.

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In central Zaire, the powerful Baluba, whose home is the diamond-rich area in East Kasai, are happy to see Mr Kabila now but will be subservient to nobody in the longer term.

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The area has the earliest known diamond mines in the world, producing the stones as early as 800BC.

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Craig Dargo volleyed over the bar after Diamond had failed to deal with Jack Ross's searching ball into the area as the Buddies enjoyed a rare period of sustained pressure.

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It is near an area known as Zengeni in Marange, said to be one of the world's most significant diamond fields.

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