Naomi, the warlord and the blood diamond gift

THE plot could have come straight from a John le Carre novel — with a cast including a former warlord, a supermodel, an actress and a bag full of blood diamonds.

Prosecutors at the Hague trying former Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes — including murder, rape and conscripting child soldiers — believe Naomi Campbell holds vital evidence.

The story begins in South Africa in 1997 when the model was among a number of guests at a star-studded charity party hosted by Nelson Mandela. Also in attendance were Taylor and actress Mia Farrow.