British supermodel Naomi Campbell appeared in court in the Netherlands today at the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor. She told the court she was given a pouch containing a few small diamonds while she was attending a dinner in South Africa hosted by then President Nelson Mandela.

Ms Campbell was testifying before the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) in the Dutch town of Leidschendam, on the outskirts of The Hague, about the alleged "blood diamond" gift from Mr Taylor, who is charged with 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone.

Dirty-looking stones
"When I was sleeping I had a knock at my door and I opened my door and two men were there and gave me a pouch and said: 'A gift for you'," she told a panel of international judges.

"I saw a few stones in there. Very small, dirty-looking stones," she said, adding, "there was no explanation, no note".

Ms Campbell said she left the pouch next to her bed, went back to bed and only opened it the next morning. At breakfast, she told her modelling agent Carole White and actress Mia Farrow about the gift.

"One of the two said that is obviously Charles Taylor and I said: 'Yes, I guess it was'."

She told the judges that she later gave the rough diamonds to the former head of the Nelson Mandela Children's fund.

Subpoena
Because Naomi Campbell had originally refused to testify, the prosecution subpoenaed her to back their allegations that the former Liberian president received diamonds from rebels in Sierra Leone, which they say he then used to buy weapons during a 1997 trip to South Africa. Mr Taylor has denied the allegations as "nonsense".

In September 1997, Nelson Mandela hosted a gala celebrating the opening of South Africa's luxury passenger rail line; the guests included Liberian president Charles Taylor, US music producer Quincy Jones, Mia Farrow, Naomi Campbell and Carole White.

Rough diamond
According to statements by White and Farrow, Charles Taylor was very taken with the supermodel and had his men deliver a "large rough diamond" to her room after the party had broken up.

Carole White says she witnessed the diamond being delivered and Mia Farrow says Campbell told her about it the following morning. Mia Farrow says Campbell told her that she would donate the diamond to one of Nelson Mandela's children's charities.

Mia Farrow and Carol White are expected to give testimony about the incident on Monday.

Prior to the supermodel's arrival this morning, the court building was besieged by dozens of journalists, cameramen and photographers. The local authorities had erected barriers around the entrance and several streets were closed off.