Trump delays release of some 'sensitive' Kennedy assassination files

[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump on Thursday approved the release of thousands of records about the assassination of president John F Kennedy, but delayed the publication of some "sensitive" files, administration officials said.

The National Archives was to make the 2,800 records approved for release available on its website later Thursday.

But the officials said Mr Trump - at the request of the CIA, FBI and other agencies - had delayed the release of some documents related to Kennedy's November 22, 1963 assassination in Dallas, Texas.

The officials said various agencies had requested that certain documents related to national security or other considerations be held back.

Mr Trump agreed to the request and gave the agencies six months to make their case for why the documents should not be made public, they said.

"There does remain sensitive information in the records," an official said, including, for example, the identities of informants and their roles.

"The president wants to ensure that there is full transparency here," the official added, and "wants to get this information out as quickly as possible."

Kennedy assassination scholars said the documents being released on Thursday are unlikely to contain any bombshell revelations - or put to rest the rampant conspiracy theories about the slaying.

The Warren Commission which investigated the shooting of the charismatic 46-year-old president determined that it was carried out by a former Marine sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone.

AFP