Powell jeered at Summit speech
"The United States is taking action to meet environmental challenges, including global climate change," he said to loud booing from the rear of a hall filled with government leaders and delegates ranging from youth activists to environmentalists.
The United States has been strongly criticized by leaders and activists here for President Bush's decision last year to reject the Kyoto Protocol, which many countries view as crucial for reversing a global warming trend blamed for cataclysmic storms and droughts.
Bush has said the United States was taking other actions to fight global warming, but the international agreement's structures were inappropriate and too costly for the US economy.
As Powell spoke, delegates from US and Australian environmental groups repeatedly interrupted him, shouting "Shame on Bush." Some held up banners reading, "Betrayed by governments" and "Bush: People and Planet, Not Big Business."
Thirteen people were forcibly removed from the hall by security.
Powell looked annoyed, answering back "I have now heard you," at one point, then continuing with his five-minute speech.
The heckling started when Powell criticized Zimbabwe for pursuing land reform policies that have exacerbated the food crisis in that country and pushed "millions of people to the brink of starvation."
He also criticized Zambia, which is also facing a hunger crisis, for rejecting genetically engineered corn that Americans eat every day.
However, much of his speech focused on US 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.
