New era for divided Britain as it leaves EU

A reveler wears a Union Jack suit at Parliament Square in London on Brexit day Friday, Jan 31, 2020. – Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg

LONDON (AFP): Britain on Friday ended almost half a century of European Union membership, making a historic exit after years of bitter arguments to chart its own uncertain path in the world.

There were celebrations and tears across the country as the EU's often reluctant member became the first to leave an organisation set up to forge unity among nations after the horrors of World War II.