US election: Republican rivals debate without Trump
Republican 2016 presidential candidates are due to take to the debate stage in Iowa later, with the notable exception of frontrunner Donald Trump.
The billionaire businessman will hold a competing rally, which could draw attention from the main event just days before the important Iowa caucuses.
He decided to withdraw after Fox News refused to drop host Megyn Kelly, whom Mr Trump accuses of bias.
Voters in Iowa on Monday are due to pick their presidential nominee.
It is seen as the first real test of the election campaign, and the beginning of a series of state-by-state contests to chose delegates for both Republicans and Democrats.
In making his decision to skip the debate in Des Moines, Mr Trump claimed "unfair" treatment from Ms Kelly of Fox News, the conservative US television network that is hosting the debate in Iowa's state capital, Des Moines.
He will instead hold a fundraising event for veterans which has been moved back an hour to 1900 local time (0100 GMT), fuelling speculation that he could still appear at the main debate.
Friction between the businessman and television host dates back to the first Republican debate, when Ms Kelly challenged Mr Trump over derogatory comments he had previously made about women.
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