BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - A majority of Germans are against an expansion of lignite mining areas, as currently planned after the clearance in the village of Lützerath. According to the ZDF "Politbarometer" published on Friday, 59 percent of respondents are against such an expansion - 33 percent are in favor. Above all, a clear majority (87 percent) of Green voters are against the project.

By contrast, 60 percent of all respondents consider greater use of coal-fired power plants to secure electricity supplies to be the right thing to do. 36 percent oppose it.

Although the increased use of coal-fired power plants is supported by a majority, 58 percent of citizens believe that the German government is doing too little to protect the climate. 26 percent think the climate protection measures are sufficient; 13 percent of those surveyed think the measures go too far.

The village of Lützerath, which belongs to Erkelenz, is to be demolished so that the energy company RWE can excavate the coal underneath. This is urgently needed to maintain energy security, say RWE and the North Rhine-Westphalian state government. The activists deny this, citing studies, and occupy the village buildings. Police have been clearing the village since Wednesday./xil/DP/nas