Bulgarians protested once again Monday by staging the now-traditional coffee-drinking anti-government rally in front of the Parliament building in downtown Sofia.

The stands offering free coffee to demonstrators were opened at 7 am. The plastic cups are being signed and collected carefully before being sent for recycling not only to keep the area litter-free, but to be counted to estimate the number of participants.

Some of the cups were used to add to the art installation "The Wall of Shame," which is mounted in the area of the tent camp outside the Parliament's security zone.

Many of the demonstrators are paying for their coffee as the money will be donated to the soup kitchen for the poor of the St Georgi Monastery in Sofia's Darvenitsa district. BGN 2 500 have been collected so far, organizers say.

The morning protest is to merge with the traditional afternoon rally, the 46th in a row, starting 6.30 pm in front of the Council of Ministers building.

The series of anti-government protests in Bulgaria was triggered by the scandalous appointment of a murky politician and businessman to lead the State Agency for National Security (DANS).

Although the appointment was revoked, the people went on to demand that the Socialist-endorsed cabinet of Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski, resign collectively over ties with oligarchs.

Protesters are also calling for Election Code amendments which will guarantee greater representation of the people in Parliament.

The government, however, is firm it will not resign as it has important tasks to accomplish.