Washington (AFP) – Signs of progress in Senate talks to end a U.S. fiscal impasse prompted the White House to postpone a meeting of key power brokers on the crisis, officials said Monday.

President Barack Obama’s meeting with top congressional leaders had been due to take place at 1:00 pm, but an official said it was put off to “allow leaders in the Senate time to continue making important progress towards a solution that raises the debt limit and reopens the government.”