Leading members of the US Republican Party have joined calls for a wide investigation into the former national security adviser's links with Russia.

Michael Flynn quit on Monday over claims he discussed US sanctions with Russia before Donald Trump took office, reports the BBC.

On Tuesday, a White House spokesman said Trump knew weeks ago there were problems with the Russia phone calls.

But calls for an independent investigation have encountered a cold reaction from some senior Republicans.

The development came as the New York Times reported that phone records and intercepted calls show members of Trump's presidential campaign, as well as other Trump associates, “had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the year before the election.

BDST: 1330 HRS, FEB 15, 2017
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