Boris Johnson says Britain to keep 'leading role' in Europe

New British foreign minister and top Brexit backer Boris Johnson pledged Monday Britain will continue to play a "leading role" in Europe as he met his European Union peers in Brussels for the first time. The normally ebullient Johnson was on his best behaviour after infuriating his partners in the run-up to last month's referendum by comparing the EU's ambitions for closer integration to Adolf Hitler's. "We have to give effect to the will of the people and leave the European Union but... we are