'Hackers' publish Bush family photographs and emails

A criminal investigation has been launched in the US after hackers apparently accessed private emails and photographs exchanged between George H.W. Bush and members of his family.

One picture showed George W Bush grinning next to a cardboard cut-out of himself wearing a beret.

Another appeared to be a photograph of a self-portrait of the former president in the bath.

Emails suggested that the Bush family had begun making preparations for the funeral of George Bush Snr, who had a stint in hospital in December 2012 with fever.

Others hinted at a strong friendship between Bush Snr and former president Bill Clinton, who was referred to as "Bubba".

US website The Smoking Gun, which published much of the material, says the hacker went by the name "Guccifer," a word watermarked on the leaked photographs.