Donald Trump has accused fellow Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz of committing "fraud" during the Iowa caucuses, and has called for a rematch.
The billionaire levelled the accusations against his GOP rival in a Twitter tirade on Wednesday, two days after finishing second to the ultraconservative senator from Texas.
"Ted Cruz didn't win Iowa, he stole it," Mr Trump tweeted. "That is why all of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated. Bad!"
Ted Cruz didn't win Iowa, he stole it. That is why all of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated. Bad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2016
Trump said the Cruz campaign had sent leaflets to "thousands" of Iowa residents that were designed to appear as "voter violation" certificates.
During primetime of the Iowa Caucus, Cruz put out a release that @RealBenCarson was quitting the race, and to caucus (or vote) for Cruz.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2016
Many people voted for Cruz over Carson because of this Cruz fraud. Also, Cruz sent out a VOTER VIOLATION certificate to thousands of voters.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2016
Mr Trump wrote: "The Voter Violation certificate gave poor marks to the unsuspecting voter (grade of F) and told them to clear it up by voting for Cruz. Fraud."
The Voter Violation certificate gave poor marks to the unsuspecting voter(grade of F) and told them to clear it up by voting for Cruz. Fraud
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2016
"Based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus, either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified," he added.
Based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus, either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2016
The volley comes as Mr Trump looks to rebound in New Hampshire following Monday's defeat in the first presidential nominating contest.
After leading in nearly all of the polls heading into the Iowa caucus, the GOP frontrunner took in 24.3% of the vote to Mr Cruz' 27.7%.
In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Mr Trump acknowledged that his decision to boycott the final Republican debate before the Iowa contest may have hurt his chances there.
But the reality TV star, who attended a fundraiser for veterans instead of taking part in the debate, insisted he would make the same decision again.
Mr Trump pulled out of the debate claiming he had been treated unfairly by host Fox News amid a feud with anchor and debate moderator Megyn Kelly.
He also admitted to Mr Hannity that he did not have a great ground campaign in Iowa "because I didn't think I was going to be winning".
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has predicted he will win over voters next week in New Hampshire, where he has a substantial lead in polls.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton has a significant gap to overcome in the statewide polls if she wants to defeat Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders following her razor-thin victory in Iowa.
The New Hampshire primary will take place on Tuesday.
