Sofia - Police officers in Bulgaria on Sunday staged a second demonstration in a week for higher pay and better gear.

More than 500 officers gathered in front of the Interior Ministry in Sofia alone.

Heeding a call via the internet to "drink water," they carried bottles of mineral water.

Some officers displayed their worn boots to highlight their demand for better winter clothing.

Similar protests took place in other cities, such as Pleven and Silistra in the north, as well as Haskovo and Smoljan in the south.

Their demands follow a first protest that saw Christmas pay of 280 dollars being pledged.

That protest took place under the motto "Let's smoke a cigarette" because police in Bulgaria may not strike.

The government in Sofia had criticized the action as "politically motivated". (dpa)