Sofia  - Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov on Wednesday expressed confidence the United States would remain the "leader in building and strengthening of a peaceful and prosperous world" under Barack Obama's presidency.

"I and the Bulgarian nation congratulate your election as president of the US and wish you success in the highly responsible mission of heading a great country ... a major player in the world's arena," Parvanov said in a statement.

Sofia - The Bulgarian government on Thursday invited the world's largest steel concern, Arcelormittal, to take over the troubled Kremikowtzi mill.

"It is one of the world's best-known enterprises," Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov said, announcing the decision to call in the company of the India-born billionaire Lakshmi Mittal.

Lakshmi's younger brother, Pramod, already owns the majority stake

in the debt-ridden Kremikovtzi mill, near the capital Sofia, which went bankrupt in August.

Dimitrov said however that the government is negotiating the sale of its 25-per cent stake in Kremikovtzi with "other domestic and foreign candidates."

Sofia - The Bulgarian fuel retailer Petrol would become the Balkan country's fourth mobile phone operator this week, it said in a statement Monday.

The Petrol mobile service, which the company would run alongside its core business of operating petrol stations, is set to launch on Wednesday.

Using the network of the largest operator, M-Tel, Petrol would offer pre-paid packages for the low-income segment of the market - students, pensioners and the economically challenged.

Sofia  - The Bulgarian fuel retailer Petrol would become the Balkan country's fourth mobile phone operator this week, it said in a statement Monday.