BULGARIAN National Radio journalists have declared the radio's newly appointed director general unfit for the job - and are threatening to strike if he doesn't stand down.

Renowned literary figure Ivan Borislavov was the only candidate that journalists were unhappy about. He was appointed by seven votes to two by the National Council for Radio and Television after a three-hour meeting on Tuesday.

Journalists booed as Mr Borislavov arrived for a general meeting on Wednesday. Many believe he does not have the experience or the flexibility for the post.

Spokesman Petar Volgin said: "The way we met him was really unpleasant but we think that he is unfit for this job. We were expressing our feelings.

"Most probably, we will follow the example of journalists from the Czech National Television. We will not allow Borislavov to enter the radio building as director. We are going to insist on the resignation of the NCRT."

Mr Borislavov tried for about an hour in vain to persuade journalists that he will do everything possible to transform the radio into a 'valuable social medium'.

The 54-year-old, who is a poet, translator and art critic, was deputy editor of the literature section of Hristo Botev, one of the two stations comprising Bulgarian National Radio, prior to his appointment as director.

The meeting ended with journalists delivering a declaration calling for Borislavov's resignation by end of the day - and threats of a preliminary seven-day strike if he did not. A copy of the declaration was sent to the NCTR, President Petar Stoyanov and the Bulgarian Parliament.

Mr Borislavov was nominated for the position by Union of Bulgarian Writers and the Translators' Union. His nomination was backed by seven of the nine members of the council. The remaining two, Svetlana Bozhilova and Georgi Lozanov, voted for the Raina Konstantiva, the present director of Radio Bulgaria.

The term of the former director general, Aleksandar Velev, expired on January 16.