DHAKA: US President Barack Obama has called off his trip to Malaysia to tackle the US government shutdown, the office of Malaysia`s PM Najib Razak has said.

Secretary of State John Kerry will represent him next week instead, the office said.

The US government has partially shut down after the two houses of Congress failed to agree a new budget.

More than 700,000 federal employees face unpaid leave, and national parks, museums and many buildings are closed.

Obama earlier vowed not to allow Republicans to undermine his signature healthcare legislation as a condition to restart the US government.

"They demanded ransom,” Obama said.

Source: BBC
BDST: 1248 HRS, OCT 02, 2013
AKA/BSK