ATLANTA, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. hip-hop singer Akon defended his decision to buy a South African diamond mine, saying the "blood diamonds" issue is the result of media exaggeration.
Akon, rapper and founder Atlanta-based Konvict Muzik, said he thinks celebrity critics of the diamond industry need to do more research, Netmusiccountdown.com said.
"They are talking about it and haven't even been there. The are talking about what they heard in the press and on TV, what they are seeing in the movie," Akon said, referring to the Oscar-nominated film "Blood Diamond."
Amnesty International claims 4 million people have died in wars that erupted because of illegal diamond trade.
Akon said the trade is more stable now, adding that "in certain areas there's probably some illegal activity going on."
Critics should turn their attention to oil, he said.
"I would call that 'blood oil'," Akon said. "The oil is killing more people."
