Obama’s full birth certificate released

The certificate says Mr Obama was born in Hawaii, which makes him eligible to hold the office of President.

He had earlier released a standard short form, but requested copies of his original birth certificate from Hawaii officials this week in the hope of ending the controversy.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Mr Obama felt the debate over his birthplace had become a “sideshow” that was bad for the country and political debate.

So-called “birthers” opposed to Mr Obama have kept the issue alive. Potential presidential candidate Donald Trump recently began questioning why he had not ensured the full version was released.

The certificate is signed by the delivery doctor, Mr Obama’s mother and the local registrar. His mother, then 18, signed her name Ann Dunham Obama.

The form says Barack Hussein Obama II was born at 7.24pm on August 4, 1961, at Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital, within the city limits of Honolulu.

There is no mention of religion. It says his father, Barack Hussein Obama, 25, was African and born in Kenya and his mother was Caucasian and born in Wichita, Kansas.

The White House also released a letter written by the President on April 22 requesting two certified copies of his original certificate of live birth, as well as a letter from Loretta Fuddy, Hawaii’s director of health, approving Mr Obama’s request.

The President’s personal counsel, Judith Corley, travelled to Hawaii to pick up the documents and carried them back to Washington on a plane.

Tycoon Mr Trump took credit for getting Mr Obama to release his birth certificate. “He should have done it a long time ago. I am really honoured to play such a big role in hopefully, hopefully getting rid of this issue,” he said.