House Speaker John Boehner (pictured above) said on Thursday that Republicans would propose a temporary increase in the US debt limit, but only if President Obama agreed to negotiate over the ongoing government shutdown.

"Listen, it's time for leadership," Boehner told reporters after meeting his party colleagues from the House of Representatives.

"What we have discussed as a conference is a temporary extension of the debt ceiling - in exchange for a real commitment by this president and the Senate majority leader to sit down and talk about the pressing problems that are facing all the American people."