Obama urges 'immediate action' as Senate leaders get to work on new deal

President says talks ‘good and constructive’ but if deal cannot be struck by Sunday Senate will have to vote on fallback proposal

President Barack Obama has demanded that Senate leaders strike a fiscal cliff deal by Sunday to avert the looming US economic crisis, or face a vote based solely on his own measures.

Speaking after a short meeting on Friday afternoon with Congressional leaders, the president expressed frustration with the slow pace of talks. “This is déjà vu all over again,” said Obama.

“The hour for immediate action is here, it is now. We are now at the point where, in just four days, every American’s tax rates are set to go up,” he said, adding: “The American people are watching what we do here. Obviously their patience is already thin.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec…scal-cliff