EU Parliament urges 'immediate' triggering of Brexit process

The European Parliament on Tuesday urged Britain to immediately trigger the divorce process from the European Union after the shock referendum vote by British voters to leave the bloc.

The "will expressed by the people needs to be entirely and fully respected, starting with an immediate activation of Article 50," said a resolution approved by MEPs at an emergency session, by 395 in favour to 200 against, with 71 abstensions.

It is up to the British government to invoke the so-called Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty that starts the clock on two years to negotiate the terms of the exit.