'Livid' Obama says Republicans want 'ransom' to end US shutdown

President Barack Obama has said Republicans have demanded ransom to end the shutdown.

The president then vowed not to allow Republicans to undermine his signature healthcare legislation as a condition to restart the US government.

The government has partially shut down after the two houses of Congress did not reach consensus over a new budget, with Republicans insisting on the repeal or delay of Obama's health law.

According to the BBC, more than 700,000 federal employees face unpaid leave, and national parks, museums and many buildings are closed.

Obama blamed conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives for the shutdown, saying 'one faction of one party' was responsible because 'they didn't like one law', the report said.

He insisted that the Congress should pass a budget, end the government shutdown and prevent an economic shutdown, it added.