WORLD : Bulgaria Offers Opposition Role

SOFIA, Bulgaria —  Bulgarian Communist leader Petar Mladenov invited the political opposition today to join a government of national unity which would run the country until free elections in May.

“Three months before the elections, the Bulgarian Communist Party declares clearly and distinctly that the party is for a government of national unity which will be able to move the country out of its crisis,” Mladenov told 3,000 delegates to an extraordinary party congress in Sofia.

Government spokesman Evgeni Alexandrov told a news conference the formation of such a government would have to be agreed upon in talks between the government and the opposition which began earlier this month.

The head of Bulgaria’s growing opposition umbrella group, the Union of Democratic Forces, said Monday the group would consider joining a national unity government. “It depends on the conditions and if these are favorable for the opposition we will participate,” said Zhelyu Zhelev, president of the coalition.