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World reaction as UK votes to leave EU

24 June 2016 09:59 (UTC +04:00)

A White House official said Obama had been briefed on the returns and would "continue to be updated by his team as the situation warrants."

"We expect the president will have an opportunity to speak to Prime Minister Cameron over the course of the next day, and we will release further comment as soon as appropriate," the official said in a brief statement to reporters.

In Paris, the French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, tweeted that the decision was â€œsad for the United Kingdomâ€, adding that while Europe would carry on â€œit must react and win back the trust of its people. It is urgent.â€

The government of Japan on Friday evening will gather for an extraordinary meeting in connection with the results of the referendum in the UK. Ministers will discuss measures that need to be taken to minimize negative impact on the economy and Japanese companies the majority decision of the British withdrawal from the EU.

â€œVote in UK shows that leaders are underestimating people's reaction to a fast-changing worldâ€, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier twitted.

"Brexit is bad news for Britain and Europe. It is a sign the EU concept needs to changeâ€, reacted Witold Waszczykowski, Poland's foreign minister.

Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament, said he would speak with German Chancellor Angela Merkel "on how we can avoid a chain reaction" of other EU states following.

"That'll have consequences and I don't believe other countries will be encouraged to follow that dangerous pathâ€, Schulz added.

Former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul assessed the UK referendum results as the next victory of Putin.Â