Donald Trump has acknowledged Barack Obama was born in the US and accused Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival for the presidency, of starting the controversy over the president's place of birth.

Speaking in Washington DC, Mr Trump said that the so-called birther debate had been started by Ms Clinton during the 2008 election campaign, and that he was, in fact, ending the discussion.

"Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. I finished it. I finished it. You know what I mean," he said.

"President Barack Obama was born in the United States. Period. Now we all want to get back to making America strong and great again."

The Republican candidate had earlier promised a "major statement" on the birther issue, ensuring media attention, but he had already conceded Mr Obama was born in the US in a statement released by his campaign on Thursday.

Ms Clinton's campaign reacted angrily to Mr Trumps' announcement, with the Democratic hopeful tweeting "What Trump just did is a disgrace".

She also pointed to the Politifact website, a site that fact-checks claims made by US politicians, and which has assessed Mr Trump's contention that Clinton's 2008 campaign started the birther rumour as "false".

Until his recent apparent change of heart, Mr Trump for years refused to acknowledge Mr Obama was born in the US.

But since his campaign changed tack on the issue, he has tried to claim credit for compelling Mr Obama to release his birth certificate, which the president published in 2008.