Bulgarian journalists from two TV channels were stricken by the anti-NATO riots in Strasbourg Saturday.

A group of masked assailants looted a gas station and set a hotel on fire in the French city as part of the demonstrations against the Alliance. The hotel was the one where the Bulgarian news reporters and cameramen from the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and from the bTV channel were accommodated.

The reporters watched the riots and the fire on TV, at the press center, while on their duty posts in Strasbourg, but had no idea it was their hotel and found out about the problem only after returning there for the night.

"I have been all over the world, including some very "hot" spots, but never expected to attend a NATO summit and end up without a place to stay, literally on the street. Some of my colleagues' rooms were just ashes. I myself and my cameraman were lucky to be able to have some of our clothes and ID papers back, but the other two colleagues are returning to Bulgaria with absolutely noting," one of the journalists said.

The BNT and bTV employees further stated they were appalled by the ineffectiveness and incompetence of the French police.

The journalists have received assistance from a Bulgarian diplomat in Strasbourg, who helped them find a hotel. They are expected to arrive in Sofia later Sunday night.

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