Anti-Trump protests across US as President-elect heads to meet Obama

[Andreea]

Demonstrations are being held in cities throughout America, with some protesters burning flags and refusing to accept the result.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets across the US in protest at Donald Trump's surprise victory in the presidential election.

Demonstrators descended on midtown Manhattan and advanced towards Trump Tower, the President-elect's home, angered by his campaign rhetoric on Muslims and immigration.

They screamed "Not my President" and expressed concern about what was happening to their country - brandishing placards calling on the public to "fight racism".

In Oakland, California, a crowd of 6,000 protesters smashed the windows of storefronts and, in Chicago, police set up blockades to stop 1,800 protesters from gathering outside the Trump International Hotel.

The Trump campaign is yet to respond to the protests. In his victory speech, the Republican said he would be president for all Americans, adding: "It is time for us to come together as one united people."

As Mr Trump prepares to meet Barack Obama later today in the White House, where they will discuss January's handover of power, a judge is holding a hearing on what to allow into class-action lawsuit against the President-elect and his now defunct Trump University, which could see him appear in court weeks before he is inaugurated.

Meanwhile, with the reverberations of his win continuing to echo around the world, it emerged that the President-elect has spoken to the leaders of several countries closely tied to US foreign policy.

The office of South Korea's President Park Geun-hye said Mr Trump had told her he was commited to defending South Korea in the face of North Korean sabre-rattling.

During his campaign, he said he would be willing to withdraw US military personnel stationed in South Korea unless Seoul paid a greater share towards the cost of deployment.

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said after his conversation with Mr Trump that the President-elect agreed with him about the importance of a US military presence in the Asia-Pacific region to ensure security.

Japanese officials said Mr Trump - who will meet the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next Thursday in New York - confirmed the importance of the Japan-US alliance and the US's commitment to cooperation.

Again, during the campaign, Mr Trump made clear his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, which includes Japan and is yet to be ratified, and demanded that Japan pay more for American troops or risk having them withdrawn.

The foreign affairs ministry of China - which Mr Trump repeatedly criticised in his campaign speeches -  told Sky News that its country's trade relationship with the US was what made relations "stable".

It added that it hoped the US could continue to view "our economic and trade relationship in an objective and unbiased perspective, and work with us to move forward such relationship".

Mr Trump was expected to have a phone conversation with Theresa May "at the earliest opportunity", after the Prime Minister congratulated him on his victory on Wednesday.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has also said he plans to meet Mr Trump during the transition period following a "cordial, friendly and respectful conversation" in the wake of his win.

The talks between Mr Trump and Mr Obama are scheduled to begin at 11am (4pm UK time) in the Oval Office, as First Lady Michelle Obama hosts Melania Trump in the residence.

Security has already been ramped up for the President-elect, with air space restrictions imposed over Trump Tower in New York City. Rubbish trucks filled with earth have also been parked outside the entrance to the high-rise building, forming a protective barrier.

Inside, Mr Trump and his senior aides are plotting their next steps - with a campaign source telling Reuters that they have been hunkered down in meetings to plan the administration's first 100 days, and decide who should serve in key staff positions.

Among those tipped for senior posts are former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and New Jersey governor Chris Christie. Both men had eagerly supported Mr Trump during the race.

The White House has begun to make the President's daily briefing and other intelligence files available to Mr Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence, a courtesy that George W Bush extended to Barack Obama as he was preparing to take office.

The Republican currently has 290 Electoral College votes, while Hillary Clinton has 228. Results from Michigan and New Hampshire are yet to be declared.