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Ted Cruz criticises Obama over Iran sailors Donald Trump jabs Ted Cruz over his Canada birth
(35 minutes later)
Republican frontrunners Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have begun a televised debate by stressing their hardline national security credentials. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has attacked Ted Cruz over his birth in Canada, saying it raised questions about his presidential eligibility.
Senator Ted Cruz opened the debate by expressing disgust over the detention of US sailors by Iran this week. In the latest Republican debate for White House hopefuls, Mr Trump told his rival: "There's a big question mark over your head".
The US constitution says the president be a "natural born citizen" of the US.
Issues of national security, the economy and foreign policy have also played heavily in the debate.
As the event began in South Carolina, Mr Cruz opened by expressing disgust over the detention of US sailors by Iran this week.
And billionaire Donald Trump said he would secure US borders to keep out migrants who wanted to do the US harm.And billionaire Donald Trump said he would secure US borders to keep out migrants who wanted to do the US harm.
In the polls, the pair are leading the four other candidates who are also on the stage in South Carolina. In the polls, the pair are leading the four other candidates who are also on the stage in North Charleston.
"We were horrified to see the sight of 10 American sailors on their knees with their hands on their head," said Mr Cruz.
"In that state of the union, President Obama didn't so much as mention those 10 sailors."
The debate comes just two weeks before the first real test of the campaign, when voters in Iowa pick their Republican and Democratic choices for president.The debate comes just two weeks before the first real test of the campaign, when voters in Iowa pick their Republican and Democratic choices for president.
Highlights so far:Highlights so far:
Live debate updatesLive debate updates
The event hosted by Fox Business Network comes after days of Mr Cruz and Mr Trump taking shots at each other, shattering a months-long period of goodwill between the two men.The event hosted by Fox Business Network comes after days of Mr Cruz and Mr Trump taking shots at each other, shattering a months-long period of goodwill between the two men.
Mr Trump, a businessman with no political experience who has dominated the presidential race, has questioned whether Mr Cruz is eligible for president, because he was born in Canada.Mr Trump, a businessman with no political experience who has dominated the presidential race, has questioned whether Mr Cruz is eligible for president, because he was born in Canada.
And the senator has responded by saying the hotel tycoon embodies "New York values", although he refused to clarify what that meant.And the senator has responded by saying the hotel tycoon embodies "New York values", although he refused to clarify what that meant.
Mr Cruz has been on the defensive over a New York Times revelation that he took a large loan from Goldman Sachs - where his wife works as a managing director - during his 2012 campaign for election to the US Senate.Mr Cruz has been on the defensive over a New York Times revelation that he took a large loan from Goldman Sachs - where his wife works as a managing director - during his 2012 campaign for election to the US Senate.
At the time, he maintained the campaign was financed by he and his wife's personal assets, and the loan was not disclosed on routine campaign finance reports.At the time, he maintained the campaign was financed by he and his wife's personal assets, and the loan was not disclosed on routine campaign finance reports.
Officials from his current campaign are labelling the loan's absence from the required documents as a "mistake".Officials from his current campaign are labelling the loan's absence from the required documents as a "mistake".
The other four Republicans on the stage will be former Governor Jeb Bush and Senator Marco Rubio, both of Florida, as well as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Ohio Governor John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson.The other four Republicans on the stage will be former Governor Jeb Bush and Senator Marco Rubio, both of Florida, as well as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Ohio Governor John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson.
A so-called undercard debate is under way featuring businesswoman Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Senator Rick Santorum, who have all performed poorly in recent polls.A so-called undercard debate is under way featuring businesswoman Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Senator Rick Santorum, who have all performed poorly in recent polls.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul elected not to participate in the undercard debate.Kentucky Senator Rand Paul elected not to participate in the undercard debate.
The BBC will be offering live coverage of the debate, which begins at 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT).The BBC will be offering live coverage of the debate, which begins at 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT).