Trump rejects new 'compromising' Russia claims

Donald Trump has decried as a "political witch hunt" US media reports that Russian intelligence agencies have obtained personally compromising material related to him.

Unsubstantiated allegations say Russia has embarrassing information about him, BBC reports.

Without referring to the stories, the president-elect tweeted: "FAKE NEWS - A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!"

Mr Trump is due to hold a news conference on Wednesday, nine days before he takes office.

It was meant to be about his attempts to separate himself from his business commitments, to address concerns about conflicts of interest.

But it now comes at an awkward time for the Republican president-elect.

As well as the allegations of a personal nature, the media reports also allege secret communications between the Trump presidential campaign and Moscow.

The US intelligence agencies reportedly presented the information to the president-elect and his predecessor at the White House, President Barack Obama.

They were said to be attached to a wider classified report into alleged interference by Russia into the US election.

But there has been nothing said publicly by the US intelligence community to support these unsubstantiated claims.