World Bulletin / News Desk

Bulgaria on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Turkey for consultations, days after accusing Ankara of meddling in upcoming snap elections.

The foreign ministry did not provide any further details around the move, a traditional sign of diplomatic anger. 

Last week, Sofia hauled in Turkey's envoy after he openly backed the new pro-Turkish Dost party, which is running in the Bulgarian election on March 26, in a campaign video.

It also slammed Ankara for encouraging the 60,000 or so Bulgarian citizens living in Turkey to vote for Dost, calling the move "direct interference in Bulgarian domestic affairs".

EU member Bulgaria shares a 270-kilometre (165-mile) border with Turkey and relies on its neighbour to stem the migrant influx, as part of a mooted EU deal signed with Ankara last year.

The April 16 vote aims to expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ankara has repeated this week a threat to withdraw from the EU migrant deal.

"Bulgaria has a plan if the agreement between Turkey and the European Union is cancelled," Bulgarian Defence Minister Stefan Yanev said Thursday, without elaborating.

Yanev said there were "no indications" right now of increased pressure on the border.