President Barack Obama has spoken with congressional leaders for the first time since a government shutdown began, but there were no signs of an end to the impasse.

President Barack Obama has accused Republicans of shutting down the Government over an "ideological crusade" to deny affordable health insurance to millions of Americans.

As dawn broke over Washington yesterday, hours after Congress decided to shut down the US government for the first time in 17 years.

National monuments are barricaded, war cemeteries in Europe closed, 800,000 workers at home with no pay - and the US shutdown has no end in sight.