Facebook blocked RT, the Kremlin-backed English news outlet formerly known as Russia Today, from posting videos, photos and news articles until the day after Donald Trump's inauguration.

The ban was enacted after a copyright complaint about a video stream of Barack Obama's press conference on RT's Facebook page on Wednesday.

The social network had handed RT a 72-hour suspension but lifted it on Thursday evening. It said the original block was not related to Friday night's inauguration but the episode triggered a furious response from Russia.

"All the features for this page owner have now been restored. We are looking into the reasons behind the temporary block," Facebook said.