WASHINGTON 11 Dec (ANA) - US President Donald Trump has threatened to shut down the government over funding a US-Mexican border wall in budget talks with top Democrats.

 

In a heated exchange with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, Mr Trump said he would be "proud" to shut down the government over border security.

 

Lawmakers face a partial government shutdown if a spending bill deal is not reached by later this month.

 

Democrats argue that the $ 5bn (£ 4bn) Mr Trump seeks is too high.

 

Mr Trump opened the Oval Office meeting calling it a "great honour" to have Mr Schumer and Mrs Pelosi present, in their first meeting since Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in the November mid-term elections.

 

But the meeting soon turned contentious as Mrs Pelosi and Mr Schumer argued that legislation to keep the government open could pass both houses of Congress before funding for some agencies was set to expire on 21 December.

 

The president contended that it could only pass if it met his demands for more funding for his proposed border wall along the US southern border.

 

"If we don't get what we want, one way or the other, whether it's through you, through military, through anything you want to call, I will shut down the government," Mr Trump said.

 

"And I am proud to shut down the government for border security. I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down."(ANA)

FA/ANA/11 December 2018------