"Kremikovtzi" will continue to receive gas supplies for one more week because the steel mill is very important for the country's economy.

The statement was made Wednesday by Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister, Petar Dimitrov, who met in his office with several of the protesting mill workers. Dimitrov confirmed earlier news, coming from Bulgargaz, that gas supply to "Kremikovtzi" will not be halted as previously announced.

The Minister told the workers that the supply was extended because the State was still searching for a strategic investor and defined the steel mill as a very important part of Bulgaria's "economy backbone."

About 2 000 workers gathered Wednesday on a protest rally in front of the Economy Ministry building demanding the State finds a bidder for the mill as well as Dimitrov's resignation and their overdue salaries.

Initially the demonstrators rejected the Minister's offer to meet with their representatives in his office and insisted he comes out and faces the crowd. The meeting finally took place inside the building, after Dimitrov hinted that it would be better the talks were held without media presence.

The media was indeed not allowed inside for part of the discussion.

Workers later told reporters that during the meeting the Minister told them the shares of the Brazilian metallurgy giant CSN, the sole bidder until now, had tumbled because the assignees in bankruptcy of the mill had leaked information about "Kremikovtzi's" deplorable state, the Bulgarian news agency BGNES reports.

Dimitrov also stated for the record that he had official information that the workers have received their last four salaries, which the demonstrators denied, shouting demands for the Minister's resignation.

The rally then moved to the Council of Ministers building. Traffic in downtown Sofia is reported to be at a standstill because of the protests.

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