Anti-Trump protests break out in California

Protests against US presidential candidate erupted in California for the second day in a row on Friday, forcing the Republican frontrunner to delay his speech.

Hundreds of protestors broke through barricades and threw eggs at police outside a hotel where Trump was due to address the state’s Republican convention. Because of the protest, Trump had to halt his motorcade and enter the hotel via a rear entrance.

"That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made," Trump told the gathering in Burlingame, south of San Francisco, after weaving around a barrier and clambering across a road to get to the venue. "It felt like I was crossing the border actually."

Demonstrators, some of whom held Mexican national flags, at one point rushed security gates at the hotel and police officers had their batons out.

The businessman had already drawn protests in California, with chaotic scenes on Thursday outside a Trump rally in Costa Mesa.

Protests have become common outside rallies for Donald Trump ,who has earned ardent critics, as well as support from Republican voters, for his rhetoric against illegal immigration. His campaign abandoned a rally in Chicago last month after clashes between his supporters and protesters.

Trump has controversially accused Mexico of sending drug dealers and rapists across the U.S. border and has promised to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it.

He said that would take a large stride toward knocking his Republican rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich out of the presidential race if he wins the Indiana primary next week.

On Friday, he said he is approaching the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

Trump, who has run as a political outsider and only recently started making inroads with the Republican establishment, called for the party to band together behind him.

"There should be and there has to be unity. Now with that being said, would I win, can I win without it? I think so, to be honest," Trump told the convention. His speech drew applause, though not the fervent reception of his usual campaign rallies.