US government returns to work after fiscal deal

Thousands of federal workers have returned to work across the US after 16 days of partial government shutdown following the passing of a fiscal deal by the Congress.

Sylvia Mathews Burwell, The White House budget director, issued a directive on Thursday to employees after US President, Barack Obama, signed a legislation that ended the shutdown and raised the US debt ceiling.

Congress reopened the US government on Thursday and signed off on more borrowing so that America could pay its bills, quelling a deep political and fiscal crisis.

But the deal only pushed the unsolved and bitter ideological battle a few months into the future.

Obama called on warring politicians to come together to pass a long term budget and to give up the "brinksmanship" that threatened the economy and squandered the trust of the American people.

He called for a budget that lowers deficits, invests in education and infrastructure, cuts unnecessary spending and closes corporate loopholes.

The US president said the government shutdown damaged America's credibility around the world.

The deal was welcomed around the world, but anxiety persisted about America's long-term stability.

The fiscal feud could resume as new deadlines in January and February near, though Republicans might not be so eager for another fight after seeing the party's approval plummet to record lows.