US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has called on his party’s Alabama candidate to “step aside” amid claims he abused a 14-year-old girl.

Mr McConnell said he believed the women accusing former Alabama chief justice Roy Moore of inappropriate behaviour, which he denies.

Another woman is expected to come forward on Monday to accuse Mr Moore of assaulting her when she was a child.

Mr Moore’s wife has said her husband’s accusers are being paid.

Mr McConnell told reporters in his home state of Kentucky on Monday that party officials were considering whether another Republican could challenge Mr Moore in next month’s election, through a so-called write-in challenge.

He said Luther Strange, whom Mr Moore beat in the Republican primary earlier this year, was a possible option.