Global reaction to British election

Britain was plunged into political turmoil on Friday after Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party lost its parliamentary majority in a snap election just days before negotiations on leaving the EU were set to kick off.

Here is a roundup of the reaction to the shock election result:

Czech Republic

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Friday Britain should form a new government quickly, as months have already been lost in its divorce talks with the European Union.

"I only hope that it will not take too long [to form a government] because we have already lost several months from the time that Britain officially announced Brexit in March," Sobotka told Czech Television.

"But now it will be necessary to wait for who will form a government and what this government will bring to negotiations over Brexit."

European Union

EU President Donald Tusk urged Britain on Friday not to delay Brexit talks after elections produced a hung parliament, warning that time was running out to reach a divorce deal.

"We don't know when Brexit talks start. We know when they must end. Do your best to avoid a 'no deal' as result of 'no negotiations'," Tusk wrote on Twitter.

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier indicated the remaining 27 members were prepared to be flexible on when the process begins.

"Brexit negotiations should start when UK is ready; timetable and EU positions are clear. Let's put our minds together on striking a deal," the Frenchman said on Twitter.

France

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Friday that the British election result was a surprise but did not change the country's decision to leave the European Union.

"The British have spoken, they have voted, and have given the Conservative Party a majority, albeit a simple majority, which is something of a surprise," Philippe told Europe 1 radio.

But he added, "I don't think we should read these results as calling into question the stance on Brexit which was clearly expressed by the British people."

Germany

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that he can only hope that Britain soon builds a government that can negotiate with the EU.

Netherlands

"The British people have chosen. What the new set-up means for #Brexit we will have to wait and see," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a tweet.

"The Netherlands is ready for [mutual] cooperation."

Norway

Norway's foreign minister, whose country twice voted against joining the EU but has access to the bloc's single market, said Brexit talks would be "harder than we hoped" after Britain's result.

"It's going to be difficult for Britain as I believe we've only seen the tip of the iceberg concerning the difficulties linked with leaving the EU," Borge Brende told local media.

Sweden

Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told the TT news agency that "it remains to be seen how the outcome of the election will affect Brexit negotiations."