DHAKA: US president Barack Obama has cancelled two stops on his four-nation Asian tour because of the government shutdown.

The White House said Obama would not now visit Malaysia and the Philippines but would still travel to Indonesia and Brunei.

Malaysia had already announced Obama would be replaced by state secretary John Kerry for the visit next week.

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, reports the BBC.

BDST: 1713 HRS, OCT 02, 2013
RoR/GCP