House Speaker Boehner on shutdown: 'This isn't some damn game'

Republican House Speaker John Boehner has criticised President Barack Obama and Democratic Senate leaders for refusing to open negotiations with Republicans over the government shutdown.

"All we're asking for is to sit down and have a discussion," he told reporters. "This isn't some damn game."

The US government began a partial shutdown earlier this week after Republicans refused to approve a budget, saying they would only do so if funding for Mr Obama's healthcare reforms were delayed.