Naomi knew she was getting diamonds

Naomi Campbell`s ex-agent has claimed the supermodel knew she was going to be given diamonds by the former Liberian president Charles Taylor.

Contradicting Campbell`s account from last week, Carole White told Taylor`s war crimes trial he was "flirting" with the supermodel during a charity meal hosted by Nelson Mandela in 1997 in South Africa - and a promise of diamonds was made.

She told the court: "Whilst we were eating, Naomi leant back and Charles Taylor leant forward, Naomi Campbell was very excited and she told me he was going to give her some diamonds."

Taylor, 62, is on trial at The Hague for his alleged role in the 1991-2001 civil war in Sierra Leone that claimed some 120,000 lives.

It is claimed the illegally-mined blood diamonds were used to arm rebels who murdered, raped and maimed Sierra Leoneans.

Ms White said arrangements were made during dinner by a "minister" - and the gems were later delivered by two men to her and Campbell`s guesthouse.

She added that she did not know how the two men had evaded security at the presidential compound in Pretoria.

When asked repeatedly whether the men had said they were from Liberia or sent by Taylor, she said: "No."

According to Ms White, Campbell was "quite disappointed" because the diamonds looked like dirty stones and "were not very impressive".

The pair had agreed to give them to the Nelson Mandela Children`s Fund because it was illegal to take the diamonds out of the country.

During her appearance, Campbell had said she received a pouch of "dirty looking pebbles" in the middle of the night from unknown men - and did not know who they were from.

Earlier, actress Mia Farrow also disputed the supermodel`s account, saying an "excited" Campbell told her she had received a "huge diamond" from Taylor.

In a dramatic twist, it emerged Ms White is involved in a breach of contract dispute with Campbell that could be worth around £4million following the termination of a perfume agreement.

As defence lawyer Courtenay Griffiths tried to discredit her, she rejected claims she had a "motive in lying about Naomi Campbell...to provide ammunition for use against her in the law suit".

sections: Celebrities