United States President Barack Obama planned to go to work Sunday night, to lead crucial consultations about various domestic and international issues in the White House. The White House press office says the president had to meet with Vice President Joe Biden and other advisers on the U.S. military campaign in Iraq, the Ukraine issue, and tensions between police and protesters in Ferguson, Missouri.

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In Ferguson, police in camouflage SWAT uniforms and armored vehicles were back in action Sunday night when protests against the killing of teenager Michael Brown intensified and led to an exchange of rock-throwing and tear-gas discharges between demonstrators and police.

The White House would not give details on why the president needed to get away from First Lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters at Martha's Vineyard and go back to Washington. But it said Obama will return to the island and finish the family vacation on August 24.

Official sources say part of the decision to head back to Washington is aimed at responding to criticisms that Obama is spending two weeks on vacation, while his administration faces so many foreign and domestic problems. Even then, Obama had not shied away from giving statements, and orders, about such issues as the Ferguson, Mo. protests and the U.S. air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq.

"I think it's fair to say there are, of course, ongoing complicated situations in the world, and that's why you've seen the president stay engaged," White House spokesman Eric Schultz said.

Since arriving on Saturday, Obama has been mixing vacation time with work, making calls to leaders and speaking to the press about Iraq, Ukraine, and Gaza, while fitting in time for golfing and biking. On Friday, he was seen following Michelle Obama and daughter Malia on a biking trip in the Michael F. Correllus State Forest. 

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