Sofia city hall said on January 14 that police who took action to cut short a protest outside Parliament had been enforcing an order by Sofia municipality issued after a bomb warning.

The protest drew more than 1000 people. It had been scheduled to start at 11am and end at 5pm, but at 1pm riot police in full protective gear dispersed the protesters, in some cases using force to do so.

The Interior Ministry said that 158 people had been arrested. Bulgarian media reports said that some police were injured and two police vehicles damaged.

The protest was organised by several university student associations, who called on everyone who had something to say against the current situation in the country to join them.

Organisers - which as momentum gathered, including a diverse range of people from various groups -- claimed that they did not want to be affiliated to any of the political parties in opposition. Despite this, The Sofia Echo saw people holding posters issued by one of the right-wing party in opposition, the Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria, calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.

Another right-wing party, the Union of Democratic Forces, said on its website that its Sofia leader Borislav Borislavov had been beaten by police officers and was one of the people arrested. He was arrested and beaten while trying to help elderly women, the party said.

Another UDF officials had to seek medical assistance after police violence, the party said. The UDF asked for a special session of Parliament to be called regarding the protest rally.