WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner called a news conference for 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT) on Friday to discuss stalled efforts to cut a bipartisan deal to avert the fiscal cliff, an aide said.

With less than three weeks to go before a year-end deadline, negotiations have essentially come down to Boehner, the top Republican, and President Barack Obama.

(Editing by Doina Chiacu)