Powell heckled as he defends U.S. at world summit

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Unfurling banners and shouting "Shame on Bush," dozens of activists at the World Summit heckled Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday as he defended America's record on the environment and helping the developing world. Thirteen activists were dragged from the room.

Boos from the rear of the summit's main hall repeatedly interrupted Powell's five-minute speech to an audience of 1,500 government leaders and delegates ranging from youth activists to environmentalists.

"The American soul has always harbored a deep desire to help people build better lives for themselves and their children," Powell said. "We have always understood that our own well-being depends on the well-being of our fellow inhabitants of this planet Earth."

The United States joined 190 other nations on the summit's last day Wednesday in adopting an action plan aimed at improving the lives of the poor and reversing the destruction of the planet.

But Washington was widely accused in 10 days of tough negotiations of shirking past commitments and trying to avoid new ones.

Government officials and activists have strongly criticized the United States for rejecting the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which sets cuts on emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. Many countries view the accord as crucial for reversing global warming blamed for cataclysmic storms, floods and droughts.

President Bush has said the U.S. is taking other actions to fight climate change, but the international agreement's strictures are inappropriate and too costly for the U.S. economy.

Washington has also been hammered by some here for opposing binding targets to increase the use of solar and wind power and other renewable energy sources, and for Bush's decision not to attend.

During Powell's speech, dozens of American, Australian and other activists in the audience jeered and shouted "Shame on Bush." Some held up banners reading "Bush: People and Planet, Not Big Business."

Powell, looking annoyed, said, "I have now heard you," at one point in his speech before going on.

The heckling started when Powell criticized Zimbabwe for pursuing land reform policies that have exacerbated the food crisis there and pushed "millions of people to the brink of starvation." The comments brought some cheers from the audience as well.

He also criticized Zambia, which is also facing widespread hunger, for rejecting genetically engineered corn that Americans eat every day.

However, much of his speech focused on America's commitment to the developing world and the environment.

"We have reaffirmed the principle that sound economic management, investment in people and responsible stewardship of our environment are crucial for development," he said.

Powell also repeated the U.S. explanation for opposing specific targets in the summit's action plan, saying projects were more important than paper agreements.

Summit Secretary-General Nitin Desai said he understood the concerns of the protesters but felt the main hall was not the right place to express them.