White House upbeat on fiscal cliff deal

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House expressed optimism on Monday that a deal would be reached to avert the looming fiscal cliff that threatens to send the world's largest economy tumbling back into recession.

President Barack Obama spoke over the weekend to Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Senator Harry Reid, who control their respective chambers of Congress and are therefore key players in brokering an accord.

"We remain confident that we can achieve an agreement. Work has to be done.

Work is continuing to take place," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.