DHAKA: US President Donald Trump has fired the director of the FBI over his handling of the inquiry into Hillary Clinton's emails, the administration says.

The White House shocked Washington by announcing that James Comey “has been terminated and removed from office”, reports the BBC.

But Democrats said he was fired because the FBI was investigating alleged links between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The move came as it emerged Comey gave inaccurate information to Congress last week about Clinton emails.

Comey was addressing FBI agents in Los Angeles when, according to US media, he learned he had just been fired when he saw the news on television.

The 56-year-old - who was three-and-a-half years into his 10-year term as FBI director - reportedly laughed, thinking it was a prank.

The White House said the search for a successor would begin immediately. It is only the second time the head of the FBI has been fired.

President Trump wrote in a letter to Mr Comey that he agreed with US Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recommendation that “you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau”.

Sessions said the department of justice was “committed to a high level of discipline, integrity, and the rule of law”, and “a fresh start is needed”.

Many have expressed surprise that Comey should be fired for his handling of the investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server for sensitive government business, given that Trump once praised the FBI director's conduct in the matter.

Democrats swiftly suggested that Trump had fired Comey to influence the FBI inquiry into whether members of the Trump election campaign colluded with the Kremlin.

The House of Representatives and Senate intelligence committees are looking into the same allegations.

BDST: 1434 HRS, MAY 10, 2017
AP