Barr tells US prosecutors to probe claims of vote irregularities

The US justice department has given federal prosecutors the go-ahead to investigate alleged vote irregularities in the presidential election.

Such investigations are normally the remit of individual states, but attorney general William Barr said this was not a hard and fast rule.

President Donald Trump has refused to admit losing the vote, making unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud.

Meanwhile, his campaign is seeking an emergency injunction in Pennsylvania to prevent president-elect Joe Biden’s victory being certified in the state.

On Saturday, Mr Biden’s projected win there took him over the threshold of 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure victory nationwide.