A bill outlawing the death penalty in Bulgaria has passed its first reading.Correspondents say next month's second reading of the measure, which commutes the maximum sentence to life imprisonment, will be a formality.

Bulgaria imposed a moratorium on executions after the collapse of communism in 1990 and is acting to bring its legislation into line with that of the European Union.

A deputy from the governing Union of Democratic Forces Svetoslav Luchnikov said retaining the death penalty would not help Bulgaria combat organized crime.