McCain halts presidential campaign to focus on economic woes

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has taken the unprecedented step of suspending his election campaign in an attempt to save US capitalism from what many commentators argue is a perilous situation akin to the Great Depression.

Mr McCain took the gamble in an attempt to help broker an emergency bailout plan for the country's financial system.

He has also requested that tomorrow's (September 26th) debate between himself and his Democrat opponent Barack Obama be postponed.

Mr Obama refused, commenting: "This is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess."

Finance chiefs in the US have struggled to gain the backing of congress for a bailout package which was seen as awarding excessive compensation to boardroom executives.

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