Thousands of protesters from different sectors rallied on Tuesday in the Bulgarian capital Sofia in front of the government headquarters in a spirited but small-scale display compared to initial plans.

The rally was organized by the KNSB trade union and gathered together representatives from more than thirty sectors, including teachers, miners, agriculture, health and energy workers, who expressed their discontent with life in the European Union's poorest and most corrupt nation.

The protesters demanded revocation of the law that bans rallies and protests in front of the headquarters of state institutions and called for a rise in state employees salaries, more money for the health care and education sectors and higher compensations when workers lose their jobs.

The protest brought traffic in downtown Sofia to a halt.

Public anger is mounting against the government ahead of the general elections at the beginning of July.

At the beginning of the year an anti-government rally in the capital Sofia turned into a riot as hundreds of protesters clashed with police, smashed windows and damaged cars.

The riot in Sofia was the worst since 1997, when violent street protests forced the then Socialist government to step down for pushing the Balkan country into an economic meltdown.

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