Donald Trump defends Vladimir Putin on journalist deaths, asks media to 'prove it'

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Pointing to the reporters during a rally in Michigan, Trump says 'I hate some of these people. But I'd never kill them. I hate them,' after telling the crowd that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been accused of killing reporters.
US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump signs autographs after speaking at a campaign event in Iowa on Saturday. PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump defended Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday (Dec 20), saying it would be "despicable" if the leader actually did kill opposition journalists, as he has been accused of on US television.

But Mr Trump asked his TV interviewer to first "prove" any such allegations.

Mr Trump's statements come just days after a separate talk show host asked how he felt about Mr Putin, who "kills journalists and political opponents and invades countries".

Mr Trump quickly responded: "I think our country does plenty of killing, also."

Grilled about the matter Sunday on ABC's This Week show, Mr Trump defended Mr Putin's record regarding Russian journalists who have died.

"I think it was despicable if that took place, but I haven't seen any evidence that he killed anybody in terms of reporters," Mr Trump said.

"When you say a man has killed reporters I'd like you to prove it. I have never seen any information or any proof that he killed reporters," Mr Trump told host George Stephanopoulos, who referenced suspicions that Mr Putin was involved in the 2006 death of investigative Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

When asked to explain his statement that "our country does plenty of killing", Mr Trump took a jab at the leading Democratic presidential hopeful.

"I think Hillary Clinton, when she was secretary of state, made some horrible, horrible decisions, and thousands and thousands and even hundreds of thousands of people have been killed," Mr Trump said.

Pressed for specifics, he added: "Take a look at what we're doing in the Middle East. We went into Iraq, we shouldn't have."

Mr Trump's feelings about Mr Putin came under the spotlight on Thursday when the Russian President described the American billionaire as "a very outstanding man, unquestionably talented" at his annual press conference in Moscow.

The next morning, Mr Trump returned the praise on the same talk show in which he accused the United States of killings.

"I think that he's a strong leader, he's a powerful leader," Mr Trump said of Mr Putin.

"When people call you brilliant it's always good, especially when the person heads up Russia," he added.

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