EU meets without Britain for first time since Brexit vote

Europe's leaders meet on Wednesday without Britain for the first time following its shock decision to leave the EU, trying to pick up the pieces and prevent further disintegration.

The 27 remaining members of the bloc agreed to give Britain some breathing space on Tuesday, accepting that it needs time to absorb the shock of the Brexit vote before triggering Article 50 that will begin the formal divorce proceedings.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned British Prime Minister David Cameron could not "cherry-pick" the terms of the exit negotiations, reflecting wider concerns that Britain's departure could spark a domino effect of other states wanting to leave the EU.

Cameron flew back to London after Tuesday's summit, as Scotland's first minister headed in the opposite direction to test the waters in Brussels for her country joining the bloc as a separate entity.