Donald Trump has ordered his administration to temporarily halt funding to the World Health Organisation over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The US president said he and his government have deep concerns as to whether its generosity has been put to the best possible use by WHO.
At a White House news conference, he said the organisation had "failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable". Trump said the group had promoted China's "disinformation" about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak of the virus than otherwise would have occurred.
The deferral of payments is pending a review of the US government's warnings about the coronavirus and China. Trump claims the outbreak could have been contained at its source