US intelligence agencies believe Russia acted covertly to boost Donald Trump in the election race, US officials have told leading newspapers.

A report in the New York Times says the agencies had “high confidence” about Russian involvement in hacking.

A CIA assessment reported by the Washington Post made similar findings.

Trump’s team, however, dismissed the CIA line, saying: “These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.”

Russian officials have repeatedly denied the hacking accusations.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has ordered an investigation into a series of cyber-attacks, blamed on Russia, that shook the US election season.

The hacks targeted emails at the Democratic Party and a key aide to presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

In October, US government officials pointed the finger at Russia, accusing it of meddling in the US vote.

BDST: 1340 HRS, DEC 10, 2016
SR