Three people were arrested during a scuffle outside the Francophonie Summit in Moncton on Saturday. Protesters were arguing over the same issue being discussed by world leaders inside: human rights.

The confrontation began when about 35 demonstrators demanded la Francophonie expel President Laurent Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire.

Some delegates from Congo came to Kabila's defence. Police tried to keep the two groups apart, but a fight broke out.

Chirac greets crowd

One of the people who was arrested was immediately released because he enjoys full diplomatic immunity. Two other people, believed to be Canadian citizens, were still in custody Saturday night.

Human rights protesters have hounded the Francophonie leaders since the summit began on Friday. They accuse certain governments, including Rwanda, Burundi, and Congo, of war crimes -- blaming them for the massacre of hundreds of thousands of people.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard both support suspension or expulsion of members who continually violate human rights. However, they say not enough countries back the idea to reach that goal this year.

La Francophonie relies on moral suasion to convince undemocratic regimes to change. That means it's left up to the military rulers at this summit to decide when to embrace democracy.

But many African Canadians don't have much faith in those promises of democracy, which is why protests have been staged for the past few days.

Fifty-two nations, mostly from Africa, are represented at the summit. Thirty-two are listed by Amnesty International as violators of human rights.

Meanwhile, in Memramcook, N.B., Romeo LeBlanc held his last big event as Canada's governor general in his home town Saturday, hosting a visit by French President Jacques Chirac.

About 500 Acadians from the area turned out to hear Chirac, who reiterated his country's commitment to nurturing Franco-Acadian relations.

Chirac called the Acadians courageous since their expulsion by a British general in 1755, and he thanked them for helping preserve the French language in North America.

"I recognize the long road you have travelled since those tragic events that have tempered your character over the centuries," Chirac told the cheering crowd.

"I recognize the intensity here of the bonds that unite Acadia and France -- a France that supported you when you wanted finally to be acknowledged."