LONDON: In a major development which will seriously hurt the European efforts to forge greater unity after World War II, the United Kingdom has voted to leave the 28-nation European Union in landmark referendum.
Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister David Cameron announced his resignation after Britons voted to exit the European Union.
While speaking to media outside his 10 Downing Street residence on Friday, Cameron said that he would leave office in October.
David Cameron said that the British people’s will must be respected after the UK voters chose to leave the European Union in a historic vote.
The referendum was carried out on Thursday for which 382 local counting centers had been established across the UK, asking the Britons to tell either to leave the European Union or not.
As per final results of referendum, 51.9 percent people voted to leave the bloc while 48.1 percent favored the EU membership.
As many as 17.4 million people wanted the UK to leave the European Union whereas 16.1 million opted vice versa.
The reports said that London and Scotland voted strongly to stay in the European Union but voters in Wales and the English shires backed Brexit in large numbers.
The decision has caused the United Kingdom money to collapse. The pound fell to its lowest level against the US dollar since 1985 as the global markets reacted to the results.
Membership of the European Union has been a controversial issue in the United Kingdom since the country joined the then European Economic Community in 1973.
