Obama: Deal is good for 'American people'
WASHINGTON, April 9 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Saturday an agreement to fund government operations and avert a shutdown was "good news for the American people."
In his weekly radio and Internet address, the president said the agreement will "avert a government shutdown, cut spending, and invest in our future."
"This is good news for the American people," he said. "It means that small businesses can get the loans they need, our families can get the mortgages they applied for, folks can visit our national parks and museums, and hundreds of thousands of Americans will get their paychecks on time -- including our brave men and women in uniform."
In remarks that largely repeated his statement following announcement of the budget agreement Friday night, Obama called the deal "an agreement to invest in our country's future while making the largest annual spending cut in our history."
"Like any compromise, this required everyone to give ground on issues that were important to them," he said. "I certainly did. Some of the cuts we agreed to will be painful -- programs people rely on will be cut back; needed infrastructure projects will be delayed."
However, the president said "beginning to live within our means is the only way to protect the investments that will help America compete for new jobs -- investments in our kids' education and student loans; in clean energy and life-saving medical research."
"Reducing spending while still investing in the future is just common sense," Obama said.
If authorization for federal funding had been permitted to expire about 800,000 federal employees faced furlough and some government services and programs would have been curtailed.
GOP raises red flag over U.S. debt
WASHINGTON, April 9 (UPI) -- Although a U.S. government shutdown has been averted, the Republican Party warned Saturday national debt levels are unsustainable and must be addressed.
In the party's weekly radio and Internet address, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said the Republican budget that will come out next week will "move the debate in Washington from billions in spending cuts to trillions."
Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, said President Barack Obama's Democrats "have not been telling you the truth" about the country's finances and future.
"Unless we act soon, government spending on health and retirement programs will crowd out spending on everything else, including national security," Ryan said. "It will literally take every cent of every federal tax dollar just to pay for these programs."
The congressman alleged the Democrats' budget would raise taxes by $1.5 trillion within the next two years of Obama's term.
"Our budget is very different," Ryan said. "Instead of locking in the spending spree of the last two years, our budget cuts $6.2 trillion in spending from the president's budget over the next 10 years."
Budget wrangling went literally into the 11th hour Friday night when a temporary compromise was struck before midnight between Obama and Republicans that prevented a partial government shutdown that would have furloughed some 800,000 federal workers.
Military breaks up Cairo demonstration
CAIRO, April 9 (UPI) -- Hundreds of Egyptian troops used electrified batons and fired shots to break up a demonstration in Cairo's Tahrir Square Saturday, protesters said.
Several hundred people defied the 2.a.m. to 5 a.m. curfew to call for a trial for ousted President Hosni Mubarak, The Washington Post reported.
Numerous people were injured in the confrontation, but a figure wasn't immediately available. However, a statement by the military claimed no one was hurt or arrested, the newspaper said.
At least three military armored vehicles were seen burning amid broken glass in the square, witnesses told the Post.
Protests calling for leadership reform began in January and Mubarak was forced to step down in February. There has been no indication of when he will face trial for his autocratic 30-year rule and many demonstrators allege little change has taken place, as many members of the interim military government were appointed by Mubarak.
Friday, at least 100,000 people marched peacefully in Tahrir Square to call for democratic reform and Mubarak's trial for corruption, the report said.
Nigerian election bombing kills 11
LAGOS, Nigeria, April 9 (UPI) -- The first of three Saturday elections in Nigeria was marred by a bombing that killed 11 people and badly injured 26 others, The Nation reported from Lagos.
The blast happened at offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the city of Suleja Friday evening, hours before polls were to open to elect 360 house representatives and 109 senators, the newspaper said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, police said. Voting in the city was postponed.
The country's elections are already a week behind schedule. Voting was canceled last weekend when officials said an unidentified supplier hadn't delivered necessary voting materials in some parts of the country.
Next Saturday, polls will open for a presidential vote and a week later, voters will choose state governors and regional officials, CNN said.
The Human Rights Watch group has said at least 85 people have been killed in political violence in Nigeria so far this year.
President Goodluck Jonathan's People's Democratic Party is fighting to maintain its house majority, although polls suggest Jonathan is expected to be re-elected, the BBC said.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and has 73.5 million registered voters.
