More than 150 Dellwood Middle School students sat spellbound yesterday as they were introduced to the effect of the chaos in children's lives that the war in Sierra Leone has caused.

What disappointment that they had in not getting to meet Sierra Leonian teenagers Bryan Taylor and Isha Sillah was reduced somewhat by a presentation by Ibiduni Jones on the role the diamond trade has caused in the demand for child fighters in the Commonwealth country.

Mr. Taylor, 18, is a former fighter with the rebel Revolutionary United Front and Ms Sillah, 17, survived a gang rape by RUF thugs.

Amnesty International Bermuda has co-ordinated the visit of Ms Jones, and the teens, but the red tape involved in getting the pair to be able to leave the US ran into a roadblock.

Mr. Taylor and Ms Sillah are currently in the US under special immigration status and according to AI Bermuda, have "experienced delays in obtaining re-entry visas for the United States. Efforts to solve this problem continue''.

The visit was not lost on the Dellwood Middle Three students, many of whom had been prepped for the visit and taught about the war which -- contrary to popular opinion -- does not involve "tribe'' or ethnic group or political fights.

Before the presentation began, one disappointed girl said: "That's too bad. I told everybody, my mama, my aunties, not to buy anymore gold until the war ends.'' Ms Jones said: "This is not a civil war, this is not a tribal war.

"It is a commercial war. They are fighting almost totally for control over the diamond trade,'' she told the students. "We are calling these illegal diamonds the Blood Diamonds.

"And we are campaigning all over the world telling the jewellery and diamond merchants to stop the trading in illegal diamonds. That's why we are here, to appeal to the Commonwealth -- of which you are a part -- and to thank the Commonwealth for its role in making sure this war is almost over.'' Ms Jones, who now lives in the US, said the war began in 1991 and is funded by diamond traders.

Children are often forced into the rebel and Government armies, where, doped up on a cocktail of gunpowder and cannabis and other drugs, they attempt the most foolhardy missions.

Those who do not join are often asked "what do you want, a long-sleeved (shirt) or a short-sleeve'', meaning whether they want to have their hand and forearm amputated.

This drew a loud gasp from the Dellwood students who were then shown a documentary on the war and its effect on children.

Dellwood M3 students heard children their own age declare they owned an AK 47 or "FN'' assault rifles as proudly as the local students say they have a Nintendo or scooter.

Ms Jones will meet Governor Thorold Masefield and Premier Jennifer Smith today in courtesy calls and tomorrow will present the annual Colin Horsfield Memorial Lecture at the BUEI.

A photo exhibit will be on display today and tomorrow at the Edinburgh Gallery in City Hall.