20,000 Protest E. German Plan for Secret Police

About 20,000 people protesting government policies formed a human chain today around Parliament in East Berlin only hours after Communist Premier Hans Modrow defended his beleaguered government and invited participation from opposition groups.

The demonstrators condemned plans to form a new internal security force to replace the hated State Security police that is being disbanded.

They also held aloft banners ridiculing the East German Communist Party, which opposition groups accused of manipulating its control of the government to gain the upper hand in May 6 elections.

About 20,000 protesters formed a human chain around the Volkskammer--the East German Parliament--as delegates left the building after a crucial session in which Modrow delivered a major policy statement.

The West German government welcomed Modrow’s statement, which an official spokesman in Bonn said contained promising elements.

“What is important is the offer to the opposition to constructively participate in the government,” the spokesman said.

During the session, lawmakers elected three new Cabinet ministers and ousted 25 delegates linked to former hard-line Communist leaders. Deputy Premier Christa Luft also presented a draft constitutional amendment outlining conditions for foreign investment in East Germany.

In his statement, Modrow denounced “attempts to dispute the legitimacy of this government,” a remark apparently aimed at opposition movements.

“As far as the alleged lack of legitimacy of this government is concerned, I cannot recall having become prime minister through a coup,” said Modrow, reacting to growing criticism of his Communist-dominated government.

Modrow, widely considered one of the Communist Party’s leading reformers, was elected by the Volkskammer to head the crisis-torn East German government Nov. 13.