Paul Manafort, former chairman of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, has volunteered to appear before the committee investigating alleged interference in by the Kremlin in last year's US election.

Congressman Devin Nunes, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Mr Manafort's lawyer had contacted the committee to offer to appear.

It had not been decided whethr the interview would take place publicly or behind closed doors, but it could be as early as next week.

Mr Manafort was one of a handful of people connected to the Trump campaign who have faced speculation over contacts with Russia and Mr Nunes urged others to come forward.

This week the Associated Press reported that a decade ago Mr Manafort worked for Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska and and wrote a proposal benefiting the government in Moscow.

Mr Manafort said he did work for Mr Deripaska but categorically denied ever working for the Russian government or "representing Russian political interests". He said he was a victim of "smear and innuendo".