May confronts Brexit worries at EU summit

Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May tried to convince European leaders she can still push through Brexit despite being badly weakened by an election bet that turned sour.

The two-day Brussels summit marks the debut of French President Emmanuel Macron, the figurehead of a renewed confidence among the remaining 27 states that Britain's withdrawal can be a fresh start.

But talks on issues including post-Brexit defence plans risk being overshadowed by concerns that a disastrous election has left May so enfeebled that Brexit negotiations will be hampered.

"There is an enormous insecurity among the Europeans: how long will she last? Has she got the majority to deliver?" a senior EU

official said.

In Brussels, security has been stepped up after Tuesday's bombing at one of the city's main rail stations by an Islamic State sympathiser, following attacks in Britain and France.

Over dinner, May is expected to fill in some of the blanks for the other EU leaders on Brexit. It will be their first meeting since her Conservative party unexpectedly lost its majority

in a June 8 election, leaving her in charge of a so-called "zombie government".

Britain's shock referendum vote to leave the EU was a year ago on Friday, and the country remains in a dark national mood after a string of terror attacks and a deadly tower block blaze.