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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Obama seeks end to debt showdown | Obama seeks end to debt showdown |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama has said he is prepared to make "tough decisions" if Republicans show him a plan to prevent the US from defaulting on its debts. | |
| The president said continued Republican opposition to any tax increases was impractical. | |
| On Thursday a fifth consecutive day of cross-party talks at the White House between Mr Obama and congressional leaders failed to make a breakthrough. | On Thursday a fifth consecutive day of cross-party talks at the White House between Mr Obama and congressional leaders failed to make a breakthrough. |
| The US must raise its $14.3tn (£8.9tn) debt ceiling to borrow beyond 2 August. | The US must raise its $14.3tn (£8.9tn) debt ceiling to borrow beyond 2 August. |
| Failure to reach a deal would rattle a world economy still trying to put the 2008 downturn behind it, analysts say. | Failure to reach a deal would rattle a world economy still trying to put the 2008 downturn behind it, analysts say. |
| "If they [Republicans] show me a serious plan, I'm ready to move even if it requires some tough decisions on my part," the president said during a news conference at the White House. | |
| "I am confident that we can not only impress the financial markets, we can also impress the American people that this town can actually get something done once in a while," he added. | |
| But the president warned the country is "obviously running out of time". | |
| "So what I have said to members of Congress is that you need over the next 24 to 36 hours to give me some sense of what your plan is to get the debt ceiling raised," he said. | |
| 'Childish' | 'Childish' |
| On Thursday, Standard & Poor's became the second of the major credit rating agencies to place US debt under review, citing an increasing risk of a payment default. | On Thursday, Standard & Poor's became the second of the major credit rating agencies to place US debt under review, citing an increasing risk of a payment default. |
| Another ratings agency, Moody's, warned a day earlier that it might cut Washington's triple-A debt rating. | Another ratings agency, Moody's, warned a day earlier that it might cut Washington's triple-A debt rating. |
| President Obama said that if congressional leaders could not "find agreement on the path forward" in the next 24-36 hours, the negotiations would have to continue into the weekend, according to Democratic and Republican aides. | President Obama said that if congressional leaders could not "find agreement on the path forward" in the next 24-36 hours, the negotiations would have to continue into the weekend, according to Democratic and Republican aides. |
| The political impasse boiled over on Thursday to the Senate floor, where Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, called House Republican Leader Eric Cantor "childish". | The political impasse boiled over on Thursday to the Senate floor, where Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, called House Republican Leader Eric Cantor "childish". |
| Mr Reid said Mr Cantor "has shown he shouldn't even be at the table" in the debt talks at the White House. | Mr Reid said Mr Cantor "has shown he shouldn't even be at the table" in the debt talks at the White House. |
| Mr Cantor reportedly told President Obama during Wednesday evening's negotiations that the tax rises sought by Democrats simply were not going to happen. | Mr Cantor reportedly told President Obama during Wednesday evening's negotiations that the tax rises sought by Democrats simply were not going to happen. |
| He is also said to have urged the president to accept a short-term deal instead of a budget that would carry through to the presidential election in November 2012. | He is also said to have urged the president to accept a short-term deal instead of a budget that would carry through to the presidential election in November 2012. |
| That is said to have prompted Mr Obama to say: "Enough is enough... I'll see you all tomorrow," before leaving the room. | That is said to have prompted Mr Obama to say: "Enough is enough... I'll see you all tomorrow," before leaving the room. |
| US Federal Reserve chairman chief Ben Bernanke warned a Senate panel on Wednesday that a default would cause a "major crisis", adding it would be a "self-inflicted wound". | US Federal Reserve chairman chief Ben Bernanke warned a Senate panel on Wednesday that a default would cause a "major crisis", adding it would be a "self-inflicted wound". |
| President Obama needs the Republican-led House of Representatives and Democratic-held Senate to agree a deal to trim the US deficit, and allow Washington to borrow beyond the 2 August deadline. | President Obama needs the Republican-led House of Representatives and Democratic-held Senate to agree a deal to trim the US deficit, and allow Washington to borrow beyond the 2 August deadline. |
| He has said he is willing to countenance cuts to social safety-net programmes dear to Democrats if certain tax breaks are eliminated. | He has said he is willing to countenance cuts to social safety-net programmes dear to Democrats if certain tax breaks are eliminated. |
| Republicans have rejected the latter proposal, saying that would stifle investment and job growth. | Republicans have rejected the latter proposal, saying that would stifle investment and job growth. |