The FBI will open an office in West Africa to investigate the links between Sierra Leone conflict diamonds and terrorism, because of an appropriation inserted by Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va.

Wolf has long been outspoken on the conflict-diamond issue and has urged the FBI to investigate the links between al Qaeda and former Liberian President Charles Taylor.

The FBI did not seek the money, but it was inserted in the 2005 appropriations bill at Wolf’s insistence.

Some FBI officials, as well as the 9/11 Commission, have said there is no evidence that al Qaeda dealt conflict diamonds, though Wolf and European officials quoted in a Washington Post report contend otherwise.

Wolf’s spokesmen did not return a call for comment.