Berlin, March 19 (IANS): Some 30,000 Kurds staged a protest in the German city of Frankfurt against Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the media reported on Sunday.

Protesters on Saturday evening came from all over Germany ahead of Kurdish new year celebrations, the BBC reported.

They called for democracy and a "No" vote in the April 16 Turkish referendum on increasing presidential powers.

A diplomatic row has been escalating between the countries since Germany refused to let Turkish ministers hold pro-government rallies two weeks ago.

A police spokesman described Saturday's rally in Frankfurt as peaceful.

About 1.4 million Turks in Germany can vote in the April referendum, which could give Erdogan new powers over the budget and the appointment of ministers and judges, as well as the power to dismiss parliament, reports the BBC.

On March 13, Erdogan stepped up a week of anti-German rhetoric by accusing Chancellor Angela Merkel of "supporting terrorists".

Her spokesman described the jibe as "clearly absurd".

He also accused Germany of "Nazi practices" for blocking his ministers from speaking in Germany.