- Oct 20, 2016 03H:41 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME
- US Election 2016
AFP
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have clashed over abortion, gun rights and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in their final televised debate.
It began with Mrs Clinton vowing to uphold women's and LGBT rights, while Mr Trump pledged to protect gun rights.
He also refused to say whether he will accept the result of the election, after saying for days it is "rigged".
Polls show Mr Trump is losing in key battleground states after facing a slew of sexual assault allegations.
Most Americans will cast their votes on 8 November.
Other highlights from the debate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, moderated by Fox News presenter Chris Wallace, include:
- Mr Trump said he expects a key ruling that made abortion legal in the US to be overturned if president
- Clinton says Mr Putin wants Mr Trump elected because he wants a puppet as US president
- "I don't know Putin. He said nice things about me," Mr Trump responded
- He says he will build a wall on the southern border
- "We have some bad hombres and we are going to get them out," he said
When asked about her paid speech to a Brazilian bank in which she spoke of her dream of open trade and open borders, Mrs Clinton said she was talking about energy policy.
In one key exchange, he attacked her 30 years of "very bad experience" and she responded by going through her timeline, comparing where she was to where Trump was.
While she was in the Situation Room helping to take out Osama Bin Laden, "he was hosting the Celebrity Apprentice", she said.
Not a good night for Trump - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Las Vegas
Donald Trump tried to be restrained. He really did. During the first section of the third presidential debate, when the topic was the Supreme Court, if you squinted you could almost imagine that this was just another presidential race, with two candidates squaring off and vigorously discussing their public policy positions on abortion and gun control.
Even the immigration discussion started reasonably civilly, until Clinton pivoted to turn a question about WikiLeaks into an attack on Donald Trump's relationship with Russia and Vladimir Putin.
At that point, interrupting Trump returned. He called Hillary Clinton a liar and a Russian puppet. By the time the topic turned to "fitness to be president," the stage was set for a total meltdown. He said the women who has accused him of sexual harassment were in it for the fame and Clinton campaign stooges.
Perhaps most remarkable, however, was when moderator Chris Wallace asked Mr Trump to support the election results, no matter how they came out. He refused to do so. He accused the media of poisoning people's minds. He said Mrs Clinton shouldn't have been allowed to run for president. It was Mr Trump in a bunker, settling scores and lashing out at enemies real and perceived.
At that point, the headlines were written and the debate results were locked in. It was not a good night for the Republican.
Mr Trump has faced damaging fallout after a video emerged of him making obscene comments about groping women, with senior Republicans deserting him.
In recent days he has railed against the election process itself, warning the vote is "absolutely rigged" with "large-scale voter fraud" taking place.
His remarks prompted a scathing response from President Barack Obama, who said the Republican challenger should "stop whining".
Polls suggest Mrs Clinton is ahead nationally and in key battleground states.
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