Donald Trump countersues writer E Jean Carroll for defamation

Former US President Donald Trump has sued the writer E Jean Carroll for defamation, alleging she falsely accused him of rape after a jury found he sexually abused her.

Last month, the civil jury in New York found he sexually abused and defamed the columnist but did not rape her.

Mr Trump's claim, filed on Tuesday, relates to comments Ms Carroll made on CNN a day after that verdict.

When asked about Mr Trump's liability for rape, she said "oh yes he did".

The claim is seeking a retraction of that comment as well as unspecified compensation and punitive damages.

A lawyer for Ms Carroll said the filing was "nothing more than his latest effort to delay accountability" for the verdict on 9 May.