Republicans are offering to pass legislation to avert a debt default and end the partial government shutdown as part of a package that includes cuts in benefit programmes, officials in the House of Representatives say.

Mitt Romney is turning away from his primary opponents and towards Democratic President Barack Obama after sweeping three more Republican contests.

Republican leaders in the House of Representatives, facing a conservative revolt, put off a vote on a bill to increase the government’s debt limit, cut federal spending and avoid a potential US default.

US political leaders were today making a final push for an agreement on a $700bn bailout for the nation’s troubled financial markets.