After another day of rallying in downtown Sofia, representatives of the striking teachers furiously walked out of talks with the cabinet, aimed at breaking the deadlock over their demands for higher wages.

Unionist leader Yanka Takeva said she was shocked by the development of the talks and accused the cabinet of backing out on an offer that had inspired hopes the gap between the two warring sides may be narrowing.

The first indication of a breakthrough was given on Wednesday, when the two parties agreed on 20% increase in the education workers' wages as of November.

"That means the rise is set up at BGN 88,80 for all people, who work in the education system," syndicate representative explained.

The negotiations continued on Thursday with the unionists still insisting on the 3x20% formula, where the teachers will get a wage hike gradually in three steps, each time with 20%.

The strikers demand also the allowance per student reach BGN 1151 in 2008.

Earlier in the day teachers from across the country took their strike out of towns and cities and blocked the main highway E79, which is part of the International Road Corridor 4.

The highway goes through the whole country starting from the town of Vidin on the Danube, going by Vratza, Pernik, Dragichevo, Dupnitza, Kyustendil, Byala, and ending on the Kulata border check point with the border with Greece.

Meanwhile other squads blocked main crossings in the big cities around Bulgaria, like the capital Sofia, Pleven, Plovdiv, Varna, Russe and Burgas.

The trade unions have called on all regional and professional teachers' structures to join the massive protests.

The striking teachers have addressed the ambassadors of all EU member-states in Bulgaria in a letter that spells out the reasons for the strike as well as their concerns about the fate of the students and the education system in the country.

The statement calls on the ambassadors to use their influence and put pressure on the Bulgarian government.

The strike has brought what is claimed to be the worst education crisis for the last seventeen years, paralysing Bulgaria for five weeks already.

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