Kalina Ilieva has been appointed head of Bulgaria's State Agriculture Fund (SFA), a media statement from the fund said.

She will replace Alizan Yahova, who was fired within the first three weeks of the Borissov Cabinet taking office. Yahova had been appointed by Ahmed Dogan, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedom party, part of the previous ruling coalition. During the election campaign Dogan had cited Yahova as an example of his personal "instruments of power" as a way to control the flow of money into the state. Another reason for Yahova's dismissal had been the fact that the European Commission had frozen 140 million euro of funding to Bulgaria in 2008 under its Sapard programme, which is managed by the SFA.

Ilieva, who is 29, was until now head of the communications working group that was in direct contact with the SFA, Bulgarian daily Dnevnik said.

Veteranarian Dragomir Gospodinov and current director of the Payment Agency Control office, Svetoslav Stefanov, have been appointed as Ilieva's deputies.

The third deputy, Angel Kinanov, will remain in his position, Dnevnik said.

Five other former deputies had been released from their posts, the fund said in its media statement.

When presenting the new head to employees of the SFA, Bulgaria's Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov said he expected no further resignations at the Fund, saying a chance would be given to those who showed competence and desire to work, Dnevnik said.

Ilieva was quoted by Dnevnik as saying that new rules for the Fund's operations would be established.