Britain has voted to leave the European Union, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron and dealing the biggest blow since World War Two to the European project of forging greater unity.
The United Kingdom itself could now break apart, with the leader of Scotland – where nearly two-thirds of voters wanted to stay in the EU – saying a new referendum on independence from the rest of Britain was "highly likely."
An emotional Cameron, who led the "Remain" campaign to defeat, losing the gamble he took when he promised the referendum in 2013, said he would leave office by October.
Quitting the world's biggest trading bloc could ruin the economy of Britain and means it must seek new trade accords with countries around the world. A poll of economists predicted Britain was likelier than not to fall into recession within a year.