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US debt ceiling: Congress passes US debt bill

The US Congress has passed a bill to reopen the government and raise the federal debt limit, with hours to spare before the nation risked default.

The Democratic-controlled Senate's bipartisan compromise won approval by 81 votes to 18.

The bill was then passed by 285-144 in the House of Representatives, whose Republican leadership begrudgingly agreed to support the measure.

Katy Watson reports.

  • 17 Oct 2013
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