Supermodel Naomi Campbell has applied for banning media coverage surrounding her as she prepares to give testimony in the war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor.

Campbell is to appear in a court in The Hague on August 9 to answer questions about whether she was given a blood diamond by former Liberian dictator, Daily Mail online reported.

Prosecutors believe her evidence could be relevant to Taylor's trial for war crimes during the 1990s civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone in which tens of thousands died.

He faces 11 charges relating to backing rebels in Sierra Leone, all of which he denies, including using child soldiers as young as ten to carry out massacres, murder and rape.

But for Campbell's appearance at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, in the Netherlands, her legal team has asked that she be given 'protective measures'.

These could include a blanket ban on the disclosure of any information relating to the 40-year-old's appearance, except what is revealed in public testimony, and a ban on the media filming or following her.

Such measures are usually reserved for those whose identity cannot be revealed for reasons of national security.

So far the Special Court for Sierra Leone has granted them to a number of witnesses against Taylor who feared being attacked by his allies if their identities were made public.

It is claimed Taylor gave Campbell the diamond in South Africa in 1997 after a dinner at Nelson Mandela's house.

According to prosecutors, Taylor was in South Africa to purchase weapons with 'blood diamonds' looted from mines in Sierra Leone.

Campbell has previously denied accepting it, but actress Mia Farrow, who was also at the dinner, called her a liar. Farrow will also testify to the court, along with Campbell's former manager Carole White, who was also at the dinner.

Solomon Moriba, spokesman for the Special Court, said Campbell's application will be considered by a judge in due course.

South Africa Nelson mandela