UK's David Cameron Wins Special Status Deal Aimed at Keeping Britain in EU

The deal was secured by British Prime Minister David Cameron late on Friday and gives the UK "special status" in the EU after a marathon summit in Brussels.

The move paves the way for him to campaign to stay in the bloc in a historic referendum expected on June 23.

The agreement came after two days and nights of intense negotiations, with Mr Cameron overcoming dogged opposition among other European leaders on all the major reforms he sought.

But Mr Cameron must immediately embark on the difficult process of selling the deal at home to eurosceptic members of his own party.

"Deal. Unanimous support for new settlement for #UKinEU," tweeted European Council President Donald Tusk, the former Polish prime minister who brokered the deal, ABC News reported.

The Danish leader Lars Lokke Rasmussen said: "David Cameron fought hard for Britain. Good deal for UK and for EU. Congrats."

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, the first to break the news of the agreement, meanwhile tweeted "Drama over".

Yet the drama is only just beginning for the Conservative leader.

He will now have to start campaigning in earnest ahead of the referendum — at the head of the "In" campaign.

"I've negotiated a deal to give the UK special status in the European Union," Mr Cameron said.

"I believe that this is enough to recommend that the UK remain in the EU having the best of both worlds."

Mr Cameron is now expected to return to London where, after a cabinet meeting at 9:00am GMT on Saturday, the referendum campaign will whirr into life as ministers who want Britain to leave will be allowed to speak out for the first time.

Opinion polls suggest the British public is finely balanced on the issue.