President Iliana Iotova will hold talks with European leaders on a joint position and will ask for an emergency item on the Council's agenda over the attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea, she told reporters at the American College. See our original report: Opposition calls for urgent security council meeting after report of ships hit in Black Sea.

"We have talks coming up with fellow European leaders, with whom we want to prepare a joint position, so that an emergency item on the Council's agenda is requested," Iotova said when asked about the attacks.

Earlier today, the president's press office issued a statement in which Bulgaria strongly condemned the latest strikes on merchant ships. Iotova said they are a gross violation of international humanitarian and maritime law.

The president was at the college for the ceremony of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award in Bulgaria. She handed badges to students from several schools who reached the gold level of the programme.