A noisy crowd of protesters disrupted a meeting of French-speaking nations in Moncton, New Brunswick, this morning.

The protesters were there to condemn the leaders of African countries accused of human rights abuses.

Around 50 demonstrators chanted, banged drums and held up hand-painted signs condemning President Pierre Buyoya of Burundi and Rwandan Vice-President Paul Kagame.

The activists say Buyoya and Kagame - neither of whom was attending the summit - were to blame for the hundreds of thousands of people who died in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and mass murders in Burundi.

"Buyoya assassin," chanted the crowd. "Chretien accomplice," shouted organizer Constantin Bwana.

"They have allowed the massacre of women and children," he said.

Leaders of the 52-member Francophone group -- which includes some of the world's poorest and most troubled nations -- were in Moncton for the start of a three-day meeting.

They will officially be discussing the problems of young people in their countries, as well as how to ensure the survival of French-speaking culture in a world where English is the dominant language.

But the leaders are under steady pressure to crack down on many of the 32 Francophone members criticized by Amnesty International for alleged human rights abuses.

Leaders of the Francophone group say they prefer to nudge their members along the road to democracy rather than suspend or even expel them from the group.

One member of a delegation from an African nation said the poorer countries needed aid, not lectures.

"If at the end of the summit all we get is more words, then it will have been a total waste of time. We know we have problems and we need help to put them right," he said.

1. Whom did a noisy crowd of protesters disrupt this morning?