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| - Anti-government protesters in Bulgaria restored their week-long blockades in central Sofia on Saturday, less than a day after they were removed by police. More than 5,000 demonstrators had gathered in Sofia in pouring rain to shout "Mafia!" and "Resignation!" for a 30th consecutive evening on Friday in the biggest protest wave in the poorest EU country since 2013-14. Rallies were also held in at least five other cities. The mostly young protesters are demanding the resignation of the conservative cabinet of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and of chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev, accusing them of being beholden to behind-the-scenes oligarchs. Borisov has resigned his previous two premierships. But his current minority coalition with two nationalist parties decided Thursday that they would fulfil their current mandate that runs until March 2021. Protesters had occupied major crossroads in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv, severely disrupting traffic, and blocked a road in central Bulgaria before police moved to clear their tents early Friday, warning that no more blockades would be tolerated. Demonstrators in Sofia however set up fresh tent camps overnight at three major downtown crossroads, buttressing them with cordons of large garbage containers, park benches and concrete street flowerpots. Sofia police chief Georgi Hadzhiev gave a press point Saturday evening saying that security police "will undertake the necessary measures" and "the barricades will be removed" again, the way they were cleared early Friday. Police had decided not to intervene right after their rebuilding early Saturday, after seeing that protesters were prepared to respond with paving blocks, stones and bottles, he said. "We are aware that the aim was to be accused of police violence... But the responsibility from now on will be carried by those breaking the law," Hadzhiev said. The demonstrators have repeatedly said they do not seek trouble with police but have a legal right to protest. Another rally was scheduled for Saturday evening. Polls this week showed that the ongoing protest wave is severely eroding support for Borisov and his conservative GERB party. ds/pvh
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