British Cabinet backs draft Brexit deal: May

British Prime Minister Theresa May says her Cabinet has decided to support a draft European Union divorce deal.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram… so Prime Minister May has passed the first hurdle….

That's right Mark… it was a tough hurdle to overcome as her senior ministers were quite divided over Brexit.
Wednesday's meeting took about five hours which was longer than expected.
After the talks, May stood outside 10 Downing Street and told the public the near 600-page draft deal was the best that could be negotiated.

"………This is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead. These decisions were not taken lightly, but I believe it is a decision that is firmly in the national interest……….."

Now the prime minister faces a much tougher challenge, which is to get the draft approved in British parliament.
Many MPs have already expressed their willingness to vote it down.
May acknowledged she faces a bumpy road.

"…….I know that there will be difficult days ahead. This is a decision which will come under intense scrutiny, and that is entirely as it should be, and entirely understandable……"

There had also been reports that a few Cabinet ministers would resign, but it's not yet clear if that will happen.
Shortly after May's comments, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier called the draft agreement a “decisive and crucial step."
Other EU leaders, meanwhile, will decide amongst themselves if the deal works for them.