Berlin, July 26 (DPA) Several hundred people demonstrated Saturday in the German cities of Hamburg and Berlin against violence and suppression in Iran.

Posters called for the release of Iranians, arrested following the June 12 presidential election for protesting against alleged fraud that led to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election.

The German demonstrators called for western governments to strengthen their boycott of Iran.

The rallies were part of a global day of action arranged by campaign groups Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders and the writers' association PEN.

'In Iran, for six weeks basic rights have been trampled underfoot,' said Monika Lueke of Amnesty International, adding that the international community of states needed to ensure the respect of human rights.