Obama warns congressional leaders as fiscal cliff looms

Barack Obama issued a stern summons to congressional leaders to approve legislation before the end of the year to prevent tax increases on millions of middle-class Americans and prevent long-term unemployment benefits for the jobless expiring.

The president’s remarks capped the end of yet another frustrating week during which his Democrats and opposition Republicans, led by House of Representatives speaker John Boehner, were unable to agree on avoiding the recession-threatening “fiscal cliff”.