New York (ANTARA News) - US President Barack Obama will delay a trip to Indonesia and Australia by three days to work on health care reform, the White House said.

"The President will delay his departure for Indonesia and Australia - will now leave Sunday - the First Lady and the girls will not be on the trip," wrote US Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on his twitter Friday.

Obama had been due to visit Guam, Australia and Indonesia, where he spent four years of his childhood with his American mother and Indonesian stepfather.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama`s wife Michelle Obama, and his two daughters, Malia and Sasha, would also no longer accompany him on the trip.

The US president has been pressing the Senate to pass a key vote on the long-running healthcare reform proposals. Reforming healthcare has been a priority for Obama but the legislation has been blocked by the Republican minority, according to BBC.

Obama had been scheduled to leave for Asia on March 18, but Gibbs said the departure date was now March 21.

Gibbs earlier said the tour was an "extremely important trip" involving "important partners".

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of Mission Salman Al Farisi at the Indonesian embassy in Washington DC said the embassy had never received an official notice from the White House on the exact date of Obama`s planned visit to Indonesia.

"Of course, it`s understandable if he decides to delay (the visit) because of the urgency to address domestic issues before leaving for Indonesia," Al Farisi said.

Gibbs had earlier said that President Barack Obama would take along his wife and two daughters on his visit to Indonesia which supposedly started on March 18. But the departure is now delayed until March 21.

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(T.SYS/A/F001/A/F001) 13-03-2010 11:50:24

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