(ANSA-AFP) - SOFIA, 03 SET - Anti-riot police guarding the Bulgarian parliament weathered smokebombs, firecrackers and stones on Wednesday as the latest in two months of anti-government protests took a violent turn, with at least 55 people hurt and nearly 100 arrested. The rally outside parliament came during a long, tense day in which a controversial draft for a new constitution was proposed in a bid to end the protests that call for the prime minister to resign for alleged corruption and protecting oligarchs. Organisers who insist the rallies are supposed to be peaceful said they did not know who threw the projectiles in what was the most violent day yet, one in which hospital officials reported 37 police officers and 18 other people were hurt, including several journalists.

Police said they arrested 60 people in the evening clashes, bringing the total to 95 arrests. They added some of them were extremists known as football ultras and said the protesters must have been aware of their presence. (ANSA-AFP).