EU's Tusk 'to decide on Brexit extension in coming days'

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European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday (October 22) that the bloc would soon make a call on Britain's request for a Brexit delay.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed to get his deal through parliament on Saturday (October 19).

And was then forced by his opponents to reluctantly - and with a mere unsigned photocopy - ask for more time.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, DONALD TUSK, SAYING:

"I'm consulting the (European Union) leaders on how to react (to the British request for a postponement of Brexit) and will decide in the coming days. It is obvious that the result of these consultations will very much depend on what the British Parliament decides or doesn't decide. We should be ready for every scenario but one thing must be clear. As I said to (British) Prime Minister Johnson on Saturday, a no deal Brexit will never be our decision."

In a sign of the frustrations felt in Brussels, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made his feelings clear.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER, SAYING:

"In truth it has pained me to spend so much of this mandate dealing with Brexit when I have thought of nothing less than how this union could do better for its citizens - waste of time and waste of energy."

He added that the European Parliament could only approve Johnson's Brexit deal after the British parliament.

Later on Tuesday British lawmakers will vote on the 115-page Withdrawal Agreement Bill and then on the government's extremely tight timetable for approving the required legislation.