France's two presidential candidates go on the offensive in crucial debate
The far right's Marine Le Pen brands her opponent a "candidate of the elite"
Centrist Emmanuel Macron strikes back, accusing her of lying
The two argue over terrorism, the French economy and Europe
Four days from the poll, the debate is seen as the last real chance for Le Pen to close the gap on Macron in the polls
The last time the far right came this close to power was in 2002 under Marine Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie Le Pen
Some 20 million French viewers are expected to tune in for the debate, due to last 2 hours and 20 minutes
Islamist militancy is a major issue in the polls after recent mass attacks claimed by so-called Islamic State. At least 238 people have been killed in jihadist attacks in France since 2015, according to recent data from AFP news agency.
In April a gunman shot dead a policeman before being shot dead by security forces on the Champs Elysees.
Image source, TwitterPoliceman Xavier Jugelé was shot dead
"Never, never in all my life have I insulted anyone because of their religion or background," she says.
He quotes an Islamist saying that Le Pen's election would be a gift to their movement because the division it would lead to would cause "civil war" in France.
Le Pen is falling into the "trap of hatred", he says.
He says he will dismantle any organisation inciting violence and hatred.
He also denies allegations that he supports a French Islamic organisation.
Le Pen asks Macron: "You said France has a share of responsibility in the breeding ground of terrorism. Can you explain this?"
Macron replies that France has to ask itself questions about homegrown terrorism, and take preventative measures against radicalisation.
"We must examine our own conscience," he says.
"A fist fight without a real winner for now. But a lot of factual errors being made by Marine Le Pen," tweets Thierry Arnaud, a BFMTV journalist.
Terrorists don't identify themselves when they cross borders, Macron says.
"They are in our airports, our stations," he says.
"That's why we need more co-operation between EU states."
France needs to improve its intelligence gathering, the centrist says.
Only a quarter of attackers were the subject of intelligence files, he adds.
Fighting terrorism will be the main priority in the coming years, he says as he embarks on explaining his own plans.
Le Pen is asked about her proposals for dealing with terrorism.
"We must attack the root problems of evil," she says, adding that preachers of hate would be expelled and says she would address funding coming in from "places like Qatar and Saudi Arabia".
"We must eradicate Islamic fundamentalism in this country."
The centrist says those bent on killing themselves at the same time as others are unworried by proposals to strip them of French nationality.
Macron:
Le Pen:
Image source, Reuters"You are waiting for terror attacks," she says to Macron.
She says the number of "terrorists" on the watch list is shameful.
The discussion is moving on to security and the fight against terrorism. Le Pen claims this issue is "completely absent" from Macron's programme. She says: "We must immediately expel foreigners on the watch list."
He says Le Pen's plans will see either contributions going up or pensions going down.
Image source, EPAMacron:
Le Pen:
When asked about retirement age, Le Pen does not hesitate: it should be 60.
The pension scheme "has been in the hand of the ultra-liberals".
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Marine Le Pen came out all guns blazing, with a brutal attack on Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of being the candidate of savage globalisation, the BBC's Hugh Schofield reports from Paris.
She was glad to have this chance to debate with him face to face, because the French would now see the cynical, shameful truth of his proposals. Emmanuel Macron kept his cool against what is clearly a deliberate ploy to get under his skin. He said that Marine le Pen represented the spirit of defeat: under her France would just give up against the challenge of globalisation - other countries would manage it, but not France
When Macron talks of healthcare shortages in French Guiana, an overseas territory that has been hit recently by huge protests, Le Pen interrupts to turn the topic to illegal immigration.