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Bail-out 'vital to easing crisis' US rivals in economy crisis talks
(about 2 hours later)
Americans must support a massive bail-out of financial markets to ease a "serious financial crisis", US President George W Bush has said. Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama are due to meet President George W Bush at the White House for emergency talks on the economy.
The entire economy was in danger, he said in a live TV speech, and failure to act now would cost more later. Mr Bush has warned that the entire economy is in danger, and that failure to act now would cost more later.
He has invited presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama to the White House on Thursday to discuss the $700bn (£378bn) rescue package. He has been pushing for Congress to pass a $700bn (£378bn) rescue package to bail-out the financial markets.
The rivals have disagreed on delaying a TV debate over the economic turmoil. Mr McCain has suspended his campaign over the crisis, but Mr Obama says voters need to hear from candidates.
Mr McCain says he is suspending his campaign to help with the crisis, but Mr Obama says voters now need to hear from the candidates more than ever. WORLD ECONOMY ON THE BRINK? Watch a debate tonight from 2000BST/1900GMT on the BBC's News Channel, BBC World News and online
The two men will attend a meeting with administration officials and congressional representatives on Thursday morning in the US capital in a bid to broker a mutually acceptable bail-out deal. The two men will attend a meeting with administration officials and congressional representatives on Thursday at 1400 GMT in an attempt to broker a mutually acceptable bail-out deal.
'Distressing scenario' In a joint statement, they described the the Bush administration's planned bail-out plan as "flawed", but said efforts to protect the economy must not fail.
Mr Bush made his comments in an evening address to the nation. "This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country. We cannot risk an economic catastrophe," they said.
For McCain to go on television with his dramatic statement but not mention that Obama had called him earlier in the day was simply bizarre Justin Webb's view Meanwhile, the two rivals have disagreed on delaying a TV debate over the economic turmoil.
Mr McCain said he was suspending his campaign to return to Washington to help agree a deal, saying he feared the rescue package would not pass "as it currently stands".
He also called for his first presidential debate with Mr Obama on Friday to be suspended - something Mr Obama did not support.
Americans needed to "hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess", Mr Obama told journalists.
'Excesses on Wall Street'
Mr Bush made a televised address to the nation on the economy on Wednesday evening.
Major sectors of America's financial system were at risk of shutting down, he said, and without action a "distressing scenario" would unfold.Major sectors of America's financial system were at risk of shutting down, he said, and without action a "distressing scenario" would unfold.
George Bush warned that major sections of the financial system were at risk His administration is calling on Congress to approve the proposed bail-out - under which the Treasury would use public money to buy bad debt from troubled financial institutions - as soon as possible.
His administration is calling on Congress to approve a costly bail-out - under which the Treasury would use public money to buy bad debt from troubled financial institutions - as soon as possible.
But lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties have voiced doubts about the plan and the speed at which they are being asked to approve it.But lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties have voiced doubts about the plan and the speed at which they are being asked to approve it.
They want assurances that it will benefit ordinary American home-owners as well as Wall Street, and be subject to adequate oversight. They want assurances that it will benefit home-owners as well as Wall Street, and be subject to adequate oversight.
Mr Bush said he understood the frustration of "responsible Americans" who "are reluctant to pay the costs of excesses on Wall Street".Mr Bush said he understood the frustration of "responsible Americans" who "are reluctant to pay the costs of excesses on Wall Street".
"But given the situation we're facing, not passing a bill now will cost these Americans much more later," he said, calling for a bipartisan commission to oversee the plan."But given the situation we're facing, not passing a bill now will cost these Americans much more later," he said, calling for a bipartisan commission to oversee the plan.
'Rise above politics'
Both of the candidates in November's presidential election have been speaking out on the issue.
Given the situation we're facing, not passing a bill now will cost these Americans much more later US President George W Bush Dire warnings from US leaderSend us your comments
Mr McCain said he was suspending his campaign to return to Washington to help agree a deal, saying he feared the rescue package would not pass "as it currently stands".
He also called for his first presidential debate with Mr Obama on Friday to be suspended - something Mr Obama did not support.
Americans needed to "hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess", Mr Obama told journalists.
The two men did, however, call for a bipartisan approach on the bail-out.
"This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country," they said in a joint statement late on Wednesday.