LONDON: The British parliament's upper chamber on Friday approved a bill which aims to block a no-deal Brexit at the end of October by forcing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to seek a delay to Britain's European Union departure.
The legislation, which requires Johnson to ask for a three-month extension to Britain's EU membership if parliament has not approved either a deal or consented to leaving without agreement by Oct. 19, is expected to be signed into law by Queen Elizabeth on Monday.
The House of Lords approved the bill without a formal vote at its final stage.
Johnson has dubbed it the "surrender bill" and said it has scuppered his Brexit negotiations with the EU by removing the threat of leaving without a deal. On Thursday he said he would rather be "dead in a ditch" than delay Britain's EU exit.
He kicked 21 lawmakers out of his Conservative Party's parliamentary group earlier this week for working with opposition parties in the House of Commons to pass the legislation against the government's wishes.
Johnson says Britain must now hold a national election on Oct. 15 to let voters decide who they want to negotiate Britain's EU exit at a summit in Brussels later that week.
Opposition parties have so far rejected his call for an election, which would require the backing of two-thirds of the lower chamber's 650 lawmakers, saying they are not willing to let him dictate the timing of such a vote.
Labour had originally said they would support an election once the bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit at the end of October had become law, but now it says it wants to see the delay to Brexit secured before an election is held.
Britain’s parliament approves law seeking to block October no-deal Brexit
Britain’s parliament approves law seeking to block October no-deal Brexit
- The House of Lords approved the bill without a formal vote at its final stage
- Johnson says Britain must now hold a national election on Oct. 15 to let voters decide who they want to negotiate Britain's EU exit at a summit in Brussels later that week
Somali forces retake island overrun by militants
- Kuday Island, which is around 130 km southwest of Kismayo, was liberated from Al-Shabab in early 2015 by members of the Kenyan Defense Forces and the Somali National Army
MOGADISHU: Regional forces in Somalia said they had taken back control of a strategic island, a day after it was overrun by heavily armed Al-Shabab militants.
Al-Shabab stormed Kuday Island in the southern state of Jubaland on Wednesday in a bid to retake an area that was once an operational base for the group.
The local Jubaland administration said in a statement that its troops, backed by federal special forces, had fought for more than 24 hours on Kuday “and thwarted the ambitions of the enemy after fully eliminating their remnants today.”
It said at least 59 insurgents were killed and 42 injured, “while 10 of their battle vehicles mounted with heavy machine guns were destroyed.”
Locals confirmed the retaking of the island.
“We heard the sound of several heavy explosions this morning. Heavy fighting resumed on Kuday Island, and Shabab fighters were forced out. There was an airstrike in which several vehicles belonging to the Shabab were destroyed,” Abdi Illaan, a resident on the nearby island of Madhawa, said by phone, confirming information from other local residents.
Mohammed Hassan, a member of the Jubaland forces, said Somali special forces provided air support.
“The situation in Kudhaa has returned to normal now,” he said
Kuday Island, which is around 130 km southwest of Kismayo, was liberated from Al-Shabab in early 2015 by members of the Kenyan Defense Forces and the Somali National Army.
