Berlin - Germany took a stand today against the sentencing of 14 activists in Myanmar to long prison terms, and called the verdict "politically motivated."

A foreign ministry spokesman said the reason given by the court in handing down the verdict was "totally unacceptable" as were the "very long" prison sentences of 65 years.

The spokesman said the military rulers of Myanmar were sending "the wrong signals" and called for the release of all political prisoners in the country.

The activists, all well-known members of the 88 Generation Students Group, took part in last year's anti-government demonstrations known as the Saffron Revolution.

The weeks of protests led by Buddhist monks ended in a brutal military crackdown in September 2007, that left more than 30 dead, hundreds missing and thousands in prison.