Protestors take part in a march demanding the compliance of basic rights and an end of the restrictive coronavirus measures in Kassel, central Germany, on March 20, 2021. (Photo: AFP)

German police used pepper spray to disperse people protesting against coronavirus curbs in the city of Kassel on Saturday, in one of the country's largest such rallies so far this year.

Scuffles erupted when a group of demonstrators tried to break through a police cordon to join up with other protesters, resulting in shoving and prompting officers to use pepper spray, an AFP reporter saw.

"This is not what a peaceful protest looks like," local police tweeted.