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EU Diplomats Tell Britain to 'Hurry Up, Leave'

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European Union diplomats met in Berlin Saturday to discuss Britain's decision to leave the EU. Officials are demanding a quick exit for the UK in order to stop financial and political turmoil.

Hours after British people voted to leave the European Union, Prime Minister David Cameron resigned and stocks plummeted around the world. The Dow Jones dropped 611 points, its biggest fall since August. The pound also dropped to its lowest level since 1985, plunging more than 10 percent.

Those are among the consequences that EU leaders say they're trying to halt.

"There is a certain urgency ... so that we don't have a period of uncertainty, with financial consequences, political consequences," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Top diplomats from the six founding nations of the EU hastily gathered in Berlin to talk about Britain's historic move.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says it's critical to see the vote as a wakeup call. He was joined by his counterparts from France, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Ayrault said he hopes Britain can name a new prime minister in the coming days to speed up its departure from the EU.

But the U.K has said it won't happen for several months. Cameron said his successor would be chosen by October and that should start the process.

The favorite to succeed him, London Mayor Boris Johnson, has said there is "no need for haste" - but EU leaders continue to push.

 European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said Saturday that the British had voted to leave, and "it doesn't make any sense to wait until October to try and negotiate the terms of their departure."
           
"I would like to get started immediately," he said.

Meanwhile, Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland will launch immediate talks with European Union nations and institutions to find a way to remain in the bloc despite Britain's vote to leave.
           

 

 

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