Germany's Merkel says Brexit options have narrowed after vote

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday the options for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union had become more limited after British lawmakers rejected the deal agreed between Prime Minister Theresa May and the EU.

Merkel insisted Wednesday that an "orderly" Brexit was in the interest of both Britain and the EU, ahead of a British vote on a potentially chaotic "no-deal" exit.

"Achieving an orderly exit together, and I particularly want to repeat this today, remains in our mutual interest," Merkel said, expressing "regret" that Britain's parliament on Tuesday had rejected for a second time the withdrawal deal agreed between Brussels and Prime Minister Theresa May.

"We have not given up the goal of an orderly exit (for Britain) but yesterday's events mean the options have become narrower," she said, adding she would be able to say how things might proceed only after the next votes in the British parliament.