Mexico tells Donald Trump if he wants a wall, he can build it

Two children are seen next to a mural painted by Mexican artist Luis Sotelo called "We are migrants not criminals" in Tonatico, Mexico. PHOTO: AFP

MEXICO CITY (AFP) - Mexico's President hit back on Sunday (July 10) at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's claim that if elected, he would make Mexico build a wall along its US border.

The bombastic billionaire has promised to crack down on illegal immigration and insulted Mexican immigrants by calling them rapists, criminals and drug dealers.

As his party's presumptive presidential candidate, Mr Trump is now eyeing a clash in the November election with his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

"There is no way to have Mexico pay (for) the wall. But any decisions inside (the) USA - is a decision of its government," Mr Enrique Pena Nieto told CNN in English.

The Mexican President had earlier said Mr Trump's campaign pledge was a non-starter, but he did not address the issue as specifically.

Mr Pena Nieto said US-Mexican relations were based on coordination, collaboration and cooperation on security issues.

He had earlier compared Mr Trump's rhetoric to the rise of European dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

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