THE Zimbabwe security forces are running illegal mining camps in the country’s Marange diamond fields where civilians are beaten and forced into intensive labour, the BBC has reported.

Zimbabwe began selling diamonds worth more than a £1bn (€1.2bn) today mined from an area where soldiers are accused of killing 200 people, raping women and forcing children into hard labour.

Zimbabwe promised to withdraw its soldiers from diamond fields in the east, an official newspaper reported – a week after a rights group alleged the military was committing killings and abuses in the area.