Police Clash With Protesters In Missouri

Police in the US state of Missouri have clashed with protesters for a fourth night amid growing anger at the fatal shooting of a black teenager by police.

Heavily armed riot police fired tear gas as they moved in on demonstrators in Ferguson, St Louis, who had ignored an order to disperse.

Several people were arrested, two of them journalists who said they were assaulted before being released.


The tension was sparked by the death of Michael Brown, 18, on Saturday.

Details about the incident have been disputed but eyewitnesses said the unarmed teenager had his arms raised when he was shot multiple times by a police officer.

Police say there was a struggle and the officer suffered facial injuries.

Civil rights activists and Mr Brown's family and friends have called for an end to the clashes, while also demanding that police release the name of the officer who shot and killed Mr Brown.

The authorities have declined to release the name, citing concerns for his safety, a decision that has been criticised by protesters demanding more transparency.

The officer has been placed on administrative leave.

The town's population of 21,000 is now two-thirds black. The local police force is made up of 53 officers, three of whom are black.

President Obama has promised a full investigation by the US Department of Justice into the teenager's death, and the FBI has launched its own inquiry.