Update 1.42pm - Adds more reactions

•  David Cameron to resign as British PM 
•  A Maltese EU referendum would be 'suicide': Muscat
•  Maltese react to Brexit on social media

Heads of European Commission, Council, Parliament and Rotating Council Presidency

"We regret this decision but respect it...The Union of 27 Member States will continue. 

"We now expect the United Kingdom government to give effect to this decision of the British people as soon as possible, however painful that process may be. Any delay would unnecessarily prolong uncertainty.

"We have rules to deal with this in an orderly way. Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union sets out the procedure to be followed if a Member State decides to leave the European Union. We stand ready to launch negotiations swiftly with the United Kingdom regarding the terms and conditions of its withdrawal from the European Union.

"Until this process of negotiations is over, the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union, with all the rights and obligations that derive from this."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

"This is a turning point for Europe. “We need to make sure that European people feel that the EU wants to improve all of our lives. This is the task facing the EU and member states.” 

French President Francois Hollande

"The British vote poses a grave test for Europe, which must show solidity and strength in its response to the economic and financial risks."  

US vice-president Joe Biden

"I must say we had looked for a different outcome. We would have preferred a different outcome ... but the United States has a long-standing friendship with the United Kingdom and that very special bond will endure."

US presidential candidate Donald Trump

"I said this was going to happen, and I think it's a great thing," Mr Trump told reporters in Scotland, where he landed this morning. "They took back their country. This will not be the last." 

Pope Francis

"It was the will expressed by the people and this requires a great responsibility on the part of all of us to guarantee the good of the people of the United Kingdom, as well as the good and co-existence of the European continent."

French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault

... said he was "sad for the United Kingdom".

"Europe will continue but it must react and rediscover the confidence of its peoples. It's urgent."

German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeblue 

"I had hoped for a different result. Now we must look forward and deal with this situation ...

"The EU process for an exit from the European Union is clearly defined and will be applied. Europe will stand together now."

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg 

... called the vote a "signal from both the British voters and many other voters around Europe who feel that the EU is not providing good enough answers to today's challenges".

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban

"Brussels must hear the voice of the people, this is the biggest lesson from this decision ...

"Europe is strong only if it can give answers to major issues such as immigration that would strengthen Europe itself and not weaken it. The EU has failed to give these answers."

Polish foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski 

"This is bad news for Europe, for Poland ... We will be trying to use this situation to make the European politicians aware why this happened. And it happened because this concept, which was created some time ago, is no longer popular in Europe."

Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni

Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni said the result had to serve as a wake-up call to European leaders. "On a political level, it is a moment in which we cannot stand still," Gentiloni told reporters.
"We have a duty to be clear with European citizens and the markets. It's a very difficult moment for the European Union."

Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo

"It's a complete change of outlook that opens up new possibilities on Gibraltar not seen for a very long time. I hope the formula of co-sovereignity - to be clear, the Spanish flag on the Rock - is much closer than before.”

Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz

"A domino effect on other countries cannot be ruled out."

German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Mr Steinmeier called the result “really sobering.” “It looks like a sad day for Europe and Britain."

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Mr Turnbull moved to minimise the immediate impact Brexit would have on Australia, saying it would “take some years” for the UK to leave the EU.

He however noted that “we've seen already large falls on stock markets and there will be a degree of uncertainty for some time."

Indian finance minister Arun Jaitley 

"In this globalized world, volatility and uncertainty are the new norms. This verdict will obviously further contribute to such volatility not least because its full implications for the UK, Europe and the rest of the world are still uncertain.

"All countries around the world will have to brace themselves for a period of possible turbulence while being watchful about, and alert to, the referendum's medium term impacts."

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen

"Victory for freedom! As I have been asking for years, we now need to have the same referendum in France and in other EU countries."