You use ~ to say that one thing happens immediately after another thing, and usually as a result of it. (FORMAL)
Mr Muite refused to talk to them except in the company of his legal colleagues, ~ the police officers departed...
CONJ
You use ~ to say that one thing happens immediately after another thing, and usually as a result of it. (FORMAL)
Mr Muite refused to talk to them except in the company of his legal colleagues, ~ the police officers departed...
CONJ
Collins COBUILD. Толковый словарь английского языка для изучающих язык Коллинз COBUILD (международная база данных языков Бирмингемского университета) . 2012