Supporters of Bulgaria's far-right stage anti-Turkish demonstration

Protesters belonging to the far-right Ataka party marched through the city calling on Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and his government to resign because of their acceptance of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) party.

Some demonstrators also unveiled a huge placard that read: "No to Turkey in the EU."

The MRF represents Bulgaria’s Turkish minority, who make up around 10 percent of the population.

Ataka first entered the Bulgarian parliament in 2005. Surveys indicate it could become the country third-largest political party after June's general elections.