04/10/2013 10:13
US shutdown: Obama cancels Asia trip
US President Barack Obama has cancelled his trip to Asia because of the US government shutdown, the BBC reported.
Mr Obama will miss two summits, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) meeting in Indonesia.
The decision was made due to the "difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown", the White House said.
The US government closed non-essential operations after the two houses of Congress failed to agree a new budget.
Mr Obama called Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday morning and expressed his regret for the cancellation, Indonesian Presidential Spokesman for Foreign Affairs Teuku Faizasyah told the BBC.
The visit has not been rescheduled, the spokesman added.
Secretary of State John Kerry will attend the Apec gathering and the East Asia summit in Brunei in Mr Obama's place, the White House said.