Some 8,000 demonstrators formed a long human chain at the German Parliament building Reichstag, the Central Railway Station and other landmark buildings in downtown Berlin around Saturday noon, in a spin-off of the U.S.-originated "Occupy Wall Street" movement to protest against corporate greed and the excessive power of the banking system.

Blowing whistles and beating drums, the demonstrators carried placards with slogans like "Real Democracy Now," "The World is not a Product" and "Against the Power of the Banks," and chanted such slogans as "Break the power of the banks and corporations" and "No power in the banks." They blamed the banks for the "fundamental consequences of the financial crisis and the euro crisis."

The protests were jointly organized by several groups, including the anti-globalization group Attac, and supported by labor unions and non-governmental organizations. The "Occupy" activists who have camped out for days next to the Chancellery and Reichstag also joined in.

Organizers of the demonstration said that it is intolerable that "billions of euros are being spent on bailing out the banks without the people having a say." They suggested that the "big banks should be broken up, non-transparent financial products banned, a financial transaction tax introduced and assets finally be taxed."

The demonstrators planned to complete the 3.5-km human chain before marching to the Brandenburg Gate.

Some 400 police officers were deployed to monitor the situation in the German capital. There were no reports of any violent or other incidents.

Also in the day, some 9,000 demonstrators took to the streets in Frankfurt am Main to protest against government measures dealing with the financial crisis. They also formed a human chain around the financial district, holding banners and posters that read "Banks in their barrier" and "We are up 99 percent."

"More and more people are fed up that the financial markets have driven the government policy to follow their interest, and enabled all major banks just to extort the whole society," said Max Bank, a member of the anti-globalization group Attac, adding that the demonstrators demand reduced influence of the banks.

The "Occupy" movement has been spreading around the world's financial centers over the past weeks, since it first emerged in New York City in mid-September.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet