Supporters of Bulgaria's Socialist-led government are going to stage a rally on Friday, November 1, when the country marks National Enlighteners Day.

They are gathering in the vicinity of the "St. Alexander Nevsky" cathedral in downtown Sofia.

Bulgarian media inform that college students from other cities will join the rally in support of the government. There are also reports that people from western Bulgaria (the city of Pernik and the town of Tran) are being bused to the capital in an organized effort to counter anti-government protests.

Protesting Bulgarian college teachers and students, who are asking the resignation of the Socialist-led government, also announced they are organizing a mass march under the slogan "Wake Up" on the occasion of Enlighteners Day.

Security measures have been tightened in the heart of the city, which has been witnessing nearly daily blockades of key intersections, staged by disgruntled Bulgarians since mid-June.

The protests were triggered by the Constitutional Court's controversial decision to confirm the status of notorious media mogul Delyan Peevski as Member of Parliament earlier in October.

On June 14, Peevski was elected and swore in as chair of Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security, a move that prompted massive anti-corruption protests in EU's poorest member state.

The appointment was canceled, but protesters proceeded to demand the government's resignation over its suspected ties with oligarchs. The demonstrations were later fueled by a number of other controversial appointments and by wider concerns about corruption.