Obama says impasse could end 'today' if Republicans cooperate

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama said ahead of a meeting with congressional leaders Monday that an impasse that threatens throw the United States into a debt default could end "today" if Republicans cooperate.

Obama also warned that a partial government shutdown, now on the cusp of its third week had been "completely unnecessary" and hit out at the use of political brinkmanship designed to extract "extreme" concessions.