New massive anti-government rallies are being held in Bulgaria, with thousands joining the protests in Sofia and other major cities.

Several thousand people are chanting “Resign!” in front of the Council of Ministers building in downtown Sofia, reporters say.

Local media report that Volen Siderov, the controversial leader of nationalist party Ataka (Attack), has climbed on a pickup truck in front of his party’s headquarters in downtown Sofia and is shouting through a megaphone that protesters are “drunk and on drugs.”

Ataka followers have reportedly gathered nearby.

No incidents have been reported.

The number of protesters in Sofia is constantly growing, with local media saying it appears to be the most massive so far. The rally is heading towards the Parliament.

Parallel rallies are being held in Plovdiv, Varna and a number of other major Bulgarian cities.

Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski and Bulgarian Socialist Party leader have so far defied calls to resign.

The massive protests against Bulgaria’s Socialist-led government, which took oath of office less than three weeks ago, were prompted by the shocking appointment of controversial businessman and media mogul Delyan Peevski as head of the country’s powerful State Agency for National Security.

On Saturday, Peevski issued a statement saying that he was ready to step down “in the name of citizens, society and the state.”

Oresharski also promised on Saturday that Parliament would roll back the election. However, the move failed to curb the massive peaceful protests in the country.