Donald Trump attacks Planned Parenthood ahead of crucial Obamacare repeal vote

Donald Trump has urged the House of Representatives to back his new health care bill to replace Obamacare.

In tweets early on Friday morning, the President attacked the Planned Parenthood organisation and suggested that right-wing Congressmen who oppose abortion should back his reforms.

The Trump administration was forced to delay a vote on the bill on Thursday evening after it failed to achieve the support of enough Republicans. Right wing conservatives say the reforms do not go far enough, while more liberal Republicans are concerned that it could reduce cover for millions of poorer Americans.

Mr Trump tweeted: "The irony is that the Freedom Caucus, which is very pro-life and against Planned Parenthood, allows P.P. to continue if they stop this plan!"

The bill passed a procedural hurdle on Friday, pushing the House towards a showdown vote later in the day.

Every Democrat representative is expected to vote against the healthcare bill, meaning the Republicans must limit any rebellion to fewer than two dozen votes.

And in an attempt to coax report from wavering conservatives, House leaders proposed a fresh amendment with further lurch to the right - repealing Obama's requirement that insurers cover 10 specified services like maternity and mental health care.

Conservatives argue that those and other conditions, imposed on insurers, drive up premiums for everyone.

The President met with members of the Freedom Caucus personally on Thursday in an effort to win them over. But the vote was postponed after administration officials fell short.