Clinton wins Arizona Democratic primary, Trump takes Republican

[COLUMBUS] Donald Trump won the Arizona Republican presidential primary on Tuesday and Hillary Clinton was the victor in the Democratic contest as the front-runners in both parties padded their leads.

The real estate mogul was declared the winner by the Associated Press, beating Texas senator Ted Cruz and Ohio governor John Kasich in a race he dominated with his populist and anti-immigration messages.

He captured the state's 58 delegates and blunted the concerted effort by his opponents to deny him the party's nomination.

With her win, Mrs Clinton extend her commanding lead in delegates and diminished the possibility of a resurgence by Bernie Sanders to slow her march to the nomination.

Republicans are also caucusing in Utah, while Democrats are voting in caucuses in Utah and Idaho.

Mr Trump won despite efforts by Mr Cruz, 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and others to consolidate Republican support to block the billionaire from securing the 1,237 delegates he needs for the nomination.

Voters went to the polls on a day at least 31 people were killed in bombings in Brussels, for which Islamic State claimed responsibility.

Mr Trump, who has called for closing the US border, had said he was proven more correct about terrorism than any other candidate.

MrsClinton had criticized calls by Mr Trump and Mr Cruz to close the US border and secure Muslim neighborhoods in response.

BLOOMBERG