Seven German nationals and a Greek citizen were detained on Friday during an anti-austerity protest staged outside the German embassy in Athens "in solidarity with Greek people," as written on banners raised.

The group of German activists which was joined by Greek protesters denounced the "sell off of Greece", as they told local media.

Shouting "not in our name", they criticized the pressure by the German government on Greece to implement further austerity measures in order to receive new vital international loans to escape a catastrophic default in March.

The protesters were detained by police when a woman threw an egg at the embassy building and were released shortly after, Greek media said.

Greek officials, led by President Karolos Papoulias, have strongly criticized in particular German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble this week over "offensive" statements he made regarding the terms Greece should meet before receiving more aid.

Debt-ridden Greece is kept afloat with multi-billion euro bailout loans since 2010 in return of reforms that have been delayed and international creditors have increased pressure for better pace in the implementation of policies pledged.