Russia's foreign minister has laughed off the firing of the man heading the investigation into Russian hacking of the US election - joking: "Was he fired? You're kidding!"

Sergei Lavrov, the veteran Kremlin operative, was in Washington on Wednesday for the first time since August 2013.

His visit had been long-scheduled, but the timing - the day after James Comey was fired - was remarkable.

Mr Lavrov met first with Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state, and was shouted questions about whether the firing of Mr Comey had put a cloud over his visit.

Mr Tillerson, as ever, remained silent but the wily Mr Lavrov could not resist making a joke.

Later Mr Lavrov will meet President Donald Trump at the White House.

The pair are expected to discuss Syria and North Korea. The meeting is closed to the press.