BRUSSELS - New British foreign minister and top Brexit backer Boris Johnson pledged Monday Britain will continue to play a "leading role" in Europe as he met his European Union peers in Brussels for the first time. Officials in Brussels stressed they would welcome Johnson but there is little doubt his Brexit role ruffled feathers. US Secretary of State John Kerry, attending his first EU foreign ministers meeting, said Johnson had told his peers Britain intended to remain a "vital component" of Europe. "We have to give effect to the will of the people and leave the European Union but... we are not going in any way to abandon our leading role in European participation," Johnson told reporters. - France 'frank' with Britain -Johnson was a key player in the June 23 Brexit referendum and his appointment last week stunned many in Europe, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault saying he had lied to voters during the campaign.

Source: Bangkok Post July 18, 2016 12:45 UTC