Powell ambushed by jeering protest over US policies

Earth Summit: Activists attack speech that rounded on African leaders for their role in famine and defended US environmental policies

Colin Powell, the American Secretary of State, was jeered and booed at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg yesterday and parts of his speech were drowned out when he tried to defend his country's environmental policies.

The ambush was orchestrated by activists, many of them from American non- governmental organisations, who had filled a rear gallery that was reserved for the press, accredited NGOs and junior government delegates.

The jeering began when General Powell referred to Zimbabwe and its lack of respect for human rights and the rule of law. He was shouted down by sections of the main audience who had been planted by the Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe.

The noisy outbursts from the rear gallery started when he referred to the famine in Africa and criticised Zambia for rejecting genetically modified corn, which he said was being eaten safely by Americans.

"Thank you, I have now heard you. I ask that you hear me," General Powell told the activists. But the jeering continued when he moved on to other contentious issues such as energy and climate change.

The South African Foreign Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the conference president, repeatedly called for order. "This behaviour is totally unacceptable," she shouted in a vain attempt to restrain the protesters.

Activists in the gallery shouted "Shame on you" and "Shame on Bush". They held up large green posters. One read: "Bush, Colin – people and planet – not big business". Others read: "Betrayed by governments". The posters were seized and some were ripped up by UN security officials who also ejected at least six protesters from the hall. One activist who tried to burn an American flag was taken out before he could light a fire.

Jacob Scherr, a director with the Washington-based Natural Resources Defence Council, which helped to organise the protest, said the activists wanted to reflect the world's frustration with the Bush administration's actions favouring large corporate interests over the environment and people. He said: "It's as if the United States is not located on this planet. A lot of us are completely frustrated with this Bush government."

He added: "Mr Powell's speech makes it clear that the Bush administration has written off the planet."

Deborah James, of Global Exchange, an environmental group based in San Francisco, said: "As Americans, we are here to say that this administration does not speak for us, and does not speak for Americans who want an end to poverty and a healthy future for our kids."

An African delegate said he had taken advantage of the protest and joined in the jeers. "I could not have missed an opportunity to disapprove of the American hegemonic tendencies," he said. Several other delegates from developing countries admitted that they had joined in the heckling.

The US assistant secretary of state for Africa, Walter Kansteiner, said he was not surprised at the hostile reception. "I don't think that it was a total surprise in the sense that there have been a few extreme activists that have not fully listened to the US position," he said.

In his speech General Powell defended America's record on the environment and helping the poor. He said America was "committed to a billion-dollar programme to develop and deploy advanced technologies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions".

The world leaders at the Earth Summit adopted a watered-down action plan to cut poverty and protect the planet. But many environmental groups said a string of compromises had left big business free to pollute the planet.

Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, told journalists: "You must not expect a conference like this to produce miracles but it must generate political commitment. Johannesburg is not the end of everything, it is a beginning."

The leaders remaining at the summit, who included about 100 heads of state or government, adopted a political declaration that pledges their collective commitment to "build a humane and caring global society in pursuit of the goal of human dignity for all".