Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Egypt for consultations, a foreign ministry official said on Thursday, following harsh condemnation by Ankara of a bloody crackdown by Egyptian security forces on supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, Reuters reported.

Turkey has emerged as one of the fiercest international critics of what it has called an "unacceptable coup" after Egypt's military toppled Morsi last month, and has called on the U.N. Security Council to act to stop the bloodshed.