"Stop the coup!" - protests across UK against Johnson's parliament suspension

Thousands of people across Britain and Northern Ireland protested on Saturday against Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament for about a month before the deadline for the country to leave the European Union. The "backstop" insurance policy has become the main sticking point in negotiations.

The policy is part of the withdrawal agreement negotiated between the EU and Britain's former prime minister and which aims to keep the border with Ireland open. Johnson has pledged to take Britain out of the EU on Oct. 31 with or without a deal on future relations with the bloc. The move to shut parliament for around a month in the period before that will hinder efforts by his opponents to stop him.