Hundreds of people have rallied in Port Moresby to urge Pacific leaders meeting there to take West Papua's case for independence from Indonesia to the United Nations.

Activists for the cause of Melanesians in the Indonesian province on Papua New Guinea's western border, also wanted the Pacific Islands Forum to admit West Papuan delegates as observers.

But they have been barred from this week's meeting.
As forum leaders met in a hotel, West Papuan independence supporters rallied peacefully on the beach below to hear speeches and display West Papuan flags.