Barack Obama releases birth certificate

The White House has released President Barack Obama's birth certificate, in response to persistent rumours he was not born in the US.

Mr Obama had previously released an official "certification of live birth" showing he was born in Hawaii.

Speaking at a news conference, the president said officials in Hawaii have confirmed the authenticity of his birth certificate.

The president called the whole controversy a "side show" that distracted from important issues such as the United States' struggling economy.