News In Brief

Fifth Polish rights group forms; 126 more Poles defect

A human-rights group to monitor alleged police brutality and aid political prisoners in Poland has been formed in the Baltic port of Szczecin, opposition sources said Saturday. The group is the fifth to appear since the kidnap and murder of anticommunist Warsaw priest Jerzy Popieluszko by secret police last month. Supporters of the groups in Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, and Walbrzych have been summoned by the authorities to be told their activities are illegal.

Meanwhile, West German authorities said Saturday that 126 Poles have jumped ship in another mass defection, bringing the number of Polish defections to West Germany this month to 428. The latest group defected Friday evening when the ferry Rogalin docked in Travemunde, near the East German border.