Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort quits
DONALD TRUMP'S campaign chairman has stepped down at the height of the Republican's presidential race.
Paul Manafort has stepped down as campaign manager for Donald Trump
Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success
Paul Manafort had effectively been demoted in a shake-up of the campaign leadership when Mr Trump brought in two new people to head his team.
Manafort has come under increasing pressure for his ties to a pro-Russia party in Ukraine and his work as a lobbyist.
A statement from Trump said: "This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign.
"I am very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us where we are today, and in particular his work guiding us through the delegate and convention process.
"Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success."
Trump hired the head of a conservative news website to bolster his combative image and to try to reverse poor opinion poll numbers in the race against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton ahead of the November 8 election.
Trump shook up his team this week bringing in two new managers to head it
The second staff revamp in less than two months spelled a demotion for Manafort who was brought on in June in an attempt to bring a more professional touch.
Manafort has also come under increased scrutiny over comments he has failed to tell Donald Trump in.
On Friday, a Ukrainian lawmaker offered more details of what he said were payments made to Manafort by the political party of the Kremlin-backed former Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovich.
Paul Manafort resigned as campaign manager after criticism and ties to pro-Russia party in Ukraine
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Manafort, in a statement earlier this week, has denied the allegations, which were first made in The New York Times on Monday.
Manafort was Trump's second top campaign manager after Corey Lewandowski.
Lewandowski resigned in June after a power struggle with Manafort, it has been reported.
In July, Lewandowski called for Manafort’s resignation after Melania Trump, the candidate’s wife, plagiarized Michelle Obama in a speech to the national convention.
More to follow...