Trump denies CIA Russia meddling report

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President-elect Donald Trump has said he "doesn't believe" a CIA assessment that Russian hackers tried to sway the election in his favour.

In an interview with Fox News being broadcast later, he blamed Democrats for "ridiculous" reports that blamed Russia for the attacks.

Russian officials have repeatedly denied the hacking accusations.

Senior Republicans have now joined Democrats in calling for a full investigation into the intelligence.

Republican Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a joint statement with top Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer and others that the CIA's report "should alarm every American".

The hacks, targeting emails at the Democratic Party and the emails of a key aide to presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, shook the presidential campaign.

In October, US government officials pointed the finger at Russia, accusing it of meddling in the campaign to undermine the electoral process.

But on Friday, the intelligence community went further when US media reports said the CIA had "high confidence" that Russians were trying to influence the election in Mr Trump's favour.

Russians had hacked the Republican party but chose not to reveal the contents of what they found, the reports said.

Mr Trump told Fox News Sunday: "I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it."

Republican party spokesman Sean Spicer said the party had not been hacked and the intelligence report was wrong.

According to US media which have viewed the Fox interview in advance, Mr Trump also said:

• he does not require daily intelligence briefings because he's a "smart person"
• his children will run his company but will not "make deals"
• the phone call with Taiwan that prompted protests from China was not planned in advance
• he won't be bound by the "One China" policy unless Beijing makes concessions on trade
• a series of big environmental decisions including US participation in the Paris climate change deal will come quickly

Mr Trump, an outsider who stunned the political world by beating Hillary Clinton in last month's election, will assume office on 20 January.