Republicans launch Obama and Clinton probes as panel questions Trump associates

Republicans in the US have launched new probes into the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton's emails, prompting accusations from Democrats who said the moves were meant as a "massive diversion" from investigations into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The announcements of the investigations by three Republican committees came as two witnesses close to President Donald Trump faced tough questions before the House intelligence panel behind closed doors as part its Russia probe.