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Urgent: British PM vows "no turning back" after triggering Brexit

Xinhua, March 29, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Britain on Wednesday officially started the historic process to leave the European Union (EU) as the letter signed by Prime Minister Theresa May is sent to leaders of the 28-member bloc.

"There is no turning back," May told the House of Commons.

Giving official notice under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the letter was delivered to European Council President Donald Tusk in the noon.

The move came nearly nine months after the British voted for Brexit by a margin of 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent in a referendum.

By triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the Britain and EU is expected to have a two-year process in which the terms of exit will be negotiated. Unless both sides agree to extend the deadline for talks, the UK will leave on March 2019. Endit