Clinton emails 'endangered US': Trump

Hillary Clinton's use of private email while secretary of state put the "entire country in danger", US Republican Donald Trump has said.

The FBI's decision not to recommend criminal charges against her is the greatest example yet that the system is rigged, he told a North Carolina rally.

Democrat Clinton and Trump are their party's likely choices to do battle for the White House in November.

They are expected to be made the official nominees later this month.

FBI Director James Comey said Clinton had been careless in how she handled sensitive information but there was no case to bring criminal charges because there was no evidence of intent.

Speaking in Raleigh, Trump disagreed and said the system had been set up to protect the Clintons - she had put the "entire country in danger" and had probably been hacked.

"Her judgment is horrible," he said, adding: "She will be such a lousy president, folks."

The New York businessman also said that Attorney General Loretta Lynch had been bribed, getting a promise she would keep her job in return for allowing Clinton to escape prosecution.

At the same rally, Trump offered qualified praise for former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"Saddam Hussein was a bad guy," Trump said. "But you know what he did well? He killed terrorists. He did that so good. They didn't read them their rights."

Other Republicans were also critical of the FBI decision. House Speaker Paul Ryan said it "defied explanation".

"Declining to prosecute Secretary Clinton for recklessly mishandling and transmitting national security information will set a terrible precedent," he said.

The FBI's key findings:

• It is possible that "hostile actors" gained access to Mrs Clinton's email account
• There were more than 100 emails that contained classified information when they were sent or received, contrary to her claim she never sent classified emails
• But there was no evidence she had knowingly shared sensitive material
• She did not delete emails in an effort to conceal them, no evidence of cover-up

Hours later, she appeared on stage with President Barack Obama in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Neither of them mentioned the case. Instead, Obama offered her an enthusiastic endorsement at the rally - his first appearance with her during the campaign.

Obama said he believed in Clinton and there had never been any man or woman more qualified for the presidency.

Clinton's campaign spokesman backed the decision but admitted it had been a "mistake" for her to use personal email.

Her personal email server, which she used for both government and personal business, has haunted her campaign since the issue first emerged in March 2015.