Tensions rise in Missouri

Dozens of protesters clashed with riot police early Saturday in the town of Ferguson in the US state of Missouri, where 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot by a white police officer on August 9.

Anger was reportedly reignited in the St. Louis suburb after police held a press conference on Friday, in which they named Darren Wilson as the officer who fired the fatal shot.

At the same conference, police alleged Brown had stolen a box of cigars worth almost $50 (37 euros) in a "strong-arm robbery" at a convenience store shortly before he was killed. They added that Wilson had not known Brown had been a suspect in a robbery.

Police also released details of a surveillance video showing a black man, in the same outfit Brown was wearing, grab a store clerk by the shirt and shove him.

Lawyers for Brown's family criticized the police decision to release information about the allegations, and said the family was "beyond outraged" by what they called a "devious" attempt to smear the character of their son.

Family attorney Benjamin Crump said police were "choosing to disseminate information that is very strategic to try to help them justify the execution-style" killing.

Riot police and looting

Following a large, peaceful demonstration on Friday evening, groups of rioters attacked several stores in Ferguson - including the convenience store Brown was accused of robbing - at around midnight local time (0500 GMT) .

Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson said protesters started looting the store and throwing rocks and other objects at police, before officers made the decision to back off.

"We had to evaluate the security of the officers there and also the rioters," Johnson said.

Meanwhile, peaceful protesters reportedly tried to block off the front of the shop to protect it from the vandals.

Sixth night of protesting

The shooting of the unarmed teenager triggered days of sometimes violent protests over racial profiling and tensions between the black community and police.

Johnson from the Highway Patrol was appointed to take over security on Thursday, after concerns were raised about local police using heavy-handed tactics, tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters.

"We need to demilitarize this situation. This kind of response by the police has become the problem instead of the solution," AP news agency reported Senator Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, as saying.

Republican Senator Rand Paul said there "should be a difference between a police response and a military response" to demonstrations.

nm/tj (AFP, AP)