africa: DON'T EASE IVORY TRADE BAN, URGES LEAKEY

Easing a total ban on ivory trading could lead to the devastation of elephant populations in Asia and Africa, conservationist Richard Leakey said Monday.   Leakey, who is also a leading paleontologist, said moves by five African countries to reinstate a legal ivory trade at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting next month will lead to an increase in illegal trade.