This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38452985

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Election hacking: US senators call for sanctions on Russia Election hacking: US senators call for sanctions on Russia
(35 minutes later)
Three prominent US senators have warned that Russia and its president may face sanctions over the country's alleged interference in last month's presidential election.Three prominent US senators have warned that Russia and its president may face sanctions over the country's alleged interference in last month's presidential election.
Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham, and Democrat Amy Klobuchar, said the move had cross-party support. They said the move had cross-party support in the senate.
But it is not yet clear what the sanctions might involve.
President-elect Donald Trump has rejected claims of Russian interference.President-elect Donald Trump has rejected claims of Russian interference.
Outgoing President Barack Obama is expected to announce a set of retaliatory measures including sanctions and diplomatic changes as early as Thursday. Outgoing President Barack Obama is expected to announce retaliatory measures as early as Thursday.
These could include economic sanctions and changes to diplomatic relationships.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded in a statement: "If Washington really does take new hostile steps, they will be answered.Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded in a statement: "If Washington really does take new hostile steps, they will be answered.
"Any action against Russian diplomatic missions in the US will immediately bounce back on US diplomats in Russia.""Any action against Russian diplomatic missions in the US will immediately bounce back on US diplomats in Russia."
Earlier this month, CIA officials told US media they had "high confidence" that Russian hackers had attempted to sway the US election in Mr Trump's favour.Earlier this month, CIA officials told US media they had "high confidence" that Russian hackers had attempted to sway the US election in Mr Trump's favour.
The Trump team responded to those reports by saying "these are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction".The Trump team responded to those reports by saying "these are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction".
Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham, and Democrat Amy Klobuchar, voiced their support for sanctions on Wednesday while visiting the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are Nato members close to Russia's western edge.
Mr Graham told CNN the proposed sanctions would "hit Russia hard, particularly (President) Putin as an individual.Mr Graham told CNN the proposed sanctions would "hit Russia hard, particularly (President) Putin as an individual.
"I would say that 99 of us (senators) believe the Russians did this and we're going to do something about it.""I would say that 99 of us (senators) believe the Russians did this and we're going to do something about it."
He told reporters: "Russia is trying to break the back of democracies all around the world. It is now time for Russia to understand - enough is enough."He told reporters: "Russia is trying to break the back of democracies all around the world. It is now time for Russia to understand - enough is enough."
Mr McCain, Mr Graham and Ms Klobuchar are visiting the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are Nato members close to Russia's western edge.
The EU is still sanctioning Russia over its 2014 annexation of the Crimea peninsula. The sanctions, which target Russian arms exporters, banks and individuals blamed for the pro-Russian insurgency in Ukraine, have taken a heavy economic toll on Russia to date.The EU is still sanctioning Russia over its 2014 annexation of the Crimea peninsula. The sanctions, which target Russian arms exporters, banks and individuals blamed for the pro-Russian insurgency in Ukraine, have taken a heavy economic toll on Russia to date.