A trail of looted diamonds, greased palms and suspect arms deals suggests Britain is betraying its calls for action by other rich nations to stop shady corporate dealing in Africa, activists say. PM Blair launched a detailed plan devised by his Africa Commission this month to reverse the continent?s descent into poverty, including measures to ensure foreign firms do not profit from war and corruption.

But critics say Britain has failed to meet previous commitments to clamp down on activities from bribery abroad to dubious deals in African conflict zones, casting it as laggard rather than leader in enforcing corporate responsibility. Blair aims to use Britain?s presidency of the Group of Eight rich nations this year to win backing for his Africa plan, which also calls for a doubling of development aid and big policy shifts on trade to open markets to Africans. But unless Britain reins in the more unsavoury activities of its businessmen in Africa, it may lack the moral authority to win meaningful backing for its plan.

<B>Diamonds and helicopters</B>

Just before the Africa Commission launched its findings, a group of British members of parliament tabled a report on the government?s ?slow progress? in investigating British firms accused of profiteering from a five-year war in Democratic Republic of Congo in which millions died. A UN panel of experts listed 18 British-based firms among 85 companies accused of helping to fuel the conflict through activities such as trading looted diamonds, or securing lucrative contracts with warlords.

One statement said allegations against diamond giant De Beers were unsubstantiated, while the other urged Avient Ltd, which supplied crew for a Congolese government Mi-24 attack helicopter, to ?respect the human rights of those affected by their activities?. ?The experience in Democratic Republic of Congo demonstrates that the system at present fails miserably to hold anyone to account when there has been wrongdoing,? British MP Norman Lamb said in remarks sent to Reuters.

Britain came in for more criticism a week after the Africa Commission report was published for its failings in cracking down on bribery by its firms abroad ? precisely what the commission recommended rich countries do. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued a report saying not a single firm or person has been prosecuted since its anti-bribery convention came into force in Britain in 2001, citing a lack of political will and resources.

The Africa Commission also called for tighter control of the arms trade to stem the flow of weapons fuelling African conflicts, a field in which Britain has a mixed record. Researchers say Britain has tightened up on some aspects of arms dealing, although London approved sales of weapons to Nigeria and Ivory Coast in 2002, where security forces have repeatedly been accused of abuses.

Campaigners also criticised Blair?s government for approving the sale of $ 40 million air traffic control system to impoverished Tanzania by BAE Systems in December 2001, saying the kit was both extravagant and obsolete. Hoping to take a lead on the arms issue, Foreign Minister Jack Straw called this month for the world?s biggest arms exporters to agree a new treaty to control weapons sales, pledging to put it on the G8 agenda.

<B>Matthew GREEN</B>