DHAKA: British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that he will resign by October after the UK voted to leave the European Union after 43 years in a historic referendum.

Cameron made the announcement in a statement outside Downing Street after the final result was declared, BBC reports on Friday (June 24).

He said he would attempt to ‘steady the ship’ over the coming weeks and months but that ‘fresh leadership’ was needed.

The PM had urged the country to vote Remain, warning of economic and security consequences of an exit, but the UK voted to leave by 52% to 48%.

England and Wales voted strongly for Brexit, while London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed staying in.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage hailed it as the UK's ‘independence day’ but the Remain camp called it a ‘catastrophe’.

The pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985 as the markets reacted to the results.

BDST: 1446 HRS, June 24, 2016
SAS/AKA