Trump attacks US civil rights icon on Twitter

Donald Trump on Saturday attacked a prominent civil rights icon and lawmaker who said he is skipping next week's inauguration ceremony because he believes the president-elect’s victory was as illegitimate.

Congressman John Lewis who is known for his decades of work in the civil rights movement, told NBC’s  “Meet the Press” programme "I don't see this president-elect as a legitimate president."

"I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton," he told the show that will air on Sunday, adding that he will skip the presidential inauguration for the first time since becoming a member of Congress in 1987.

"You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong."

The US president-elect, in true Trump fashion, took to Twitter to respond.

"Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results," Trump said in a tweet.

"All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!" he added.

Trump’s attack on the civil rights icon, on the weekend dedicated to commemorate civil rights leader Martin Luther King, drew instant rebuke and an outpouring of support for Lewis.

Trump later in the day struck a somewhat more conciliatory tone, saying he needed all the help he can get to tackle “crime”.

Lewis, 76, marched with Martin Luther King at the August 1963 rally in Washington at which King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Lewis took part in so-called Freedom Rides - challenges to segregated facilities at bus terminals in the South.

On March 7, 1965, he led a march in Selma, Alabama that ended in an attack by state troopers on the protesters that later became known as "Bloody Sunday."