Mumbai: The UN Security Council has lifted a ban on export of diamonds from Liberia, which was imposed to prevent the proceeds being used to fund wars across Africa.

In a resolution unanimously adopted the 15-member UNSC said Liberia has made enough progress towards establishing the necessary internal controls to satisfy the minimum requirements of the Kimberley process to justify ending the embargo.

The council also agreed to review, if necessary, its decision to lift the embargo within 90 days, if the proceeds of sale of the precious stones are diverted again to fuel wars in West Africa.

The Kimberley Process, which groups 43 countries and international organisations, was set up in May 2000 to prevent illegally exported "conflict diamonds" being used to buy arms.

Members of the group have agreed to a certificate system designed to identify the origin of diamonds and guarantee that they are legally exported.

The Kimberley Process later led to the adoption in November 2002, in Interlaken, Switzerland, of the International Certification Scheme for rough diamonds, based primarily on national certification schemes and on internationally-agreed minimum standards.

The certification system ensured that only legally mined diamonds entered the market and that rebels are effectively barred from selling illegally mined diamonds to buy weapons.

Under the Kimberley Process, rough diamonds are sealed in tamper-resistant containers and required to have forgery-resistant, conflict-free certificates with unique serial numbers each time they cross an international border.

In December, the Security Council renewed sanctions against Liberia barring trade in diamonds and arms as well as targeting individual Liberians.

Liberia would soon fully join the Kimberley process, said Emyr Jones Parry of Britain, who holds the rotating council presidency for this month. "That''s a reflection of our confidence in that country (and) in its leadership, and I wish that it should now progress quickly," Parry added.

Liberia''s ambassador to the UN, Nathaniel Barnes, welcomed the Security Council''s decision and said his country has been admitted to the Kimberley Process.

The decision "means a lot to Liberia and the people of Liberia as we move forward," Liberian ambassador Lami Kawah said, adding that the government was happy to continue with the monitoring process over its diamond trade.

"I see it as a vote of confidence, as a support of our very strong political will to do the right thing for Liberia and Liberians," Barnes said. "I''ve just learned that the Kimberley committee is going to accept our application, as a result of this particular action, so now we are officially part of the Kimberley Process."

Trafficking in "blood diamonds," as they were called, is considered one of the root causes of the civil wars that have plagued West Africa, especially in Liberia and neighbouring Sierra Seone for several years.