Debt deal remains elusive as Aug 2 default deadline nears

With only days to go, Congress still clashing over details

WASHINGTON - The US Congress remained dangerously split on Wednesday in the face of an unprecedented American default on its debt in just six days, as Republicans clashed with Democrats - and with each other - over raising the federal cap on borrowing.

World stock markets watched nervously for a feared downgrade of the United States triple-A bond rating, shedding value across the board.