Bulgaria is one of Washington's allies in the war on Iraq and the protest had been organised by the country's opposition socialist party.

Sofia is allowing US refuelling aircraft to use an airbase on the Black Sea coast and the Bulgarian parliament has agreed to send up to 150 nuclear, biological and chemical defense experts to countries neighbouring Iraq if needed.

Bulgarian Socialist Party (PBS) leader Sergei Stanichev told the protestors parliament had "lied when it said it was working for a peaceful solution of the Iraqi crisis, while it was in fact supporting the war."

He said by backing Washington the legislature had "blackened Bulgaria's name in Europe."

The PSB has only 129 of the 240 seats in parliament but a Gallup poll published on Monday showed it was currently the most popular party among voters.

WAR.WIRE