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US Attorney General Eric Holder is due in the town of Ferguson, Missouri, to defuse
tensions following the police shooting of a black teenager.
Mr Holder promised a "full, fair and independent" investigation.
Ferguson has seen 10 nights of often violent clashes between police and demonstrators since
the shooting of Michael Brown, who was unarmed. Police arrested 47 people during a protest
on Tuesday night but said that the violence had largely abated.
Community leaders have continued to appeal for calm and healing.
'Inflaming tensions' In an open letter published in the St Louis
Post-Dispatch on Tuesday, Mr Holder said that the justice department "will defend the right
of protesters to peacefully demonstrate". However, he added that "violence cannot be
condoned" and urged Ferguson residents to condemn "the actions of looters, vandals and
others seeking to inflame tensions and sow discord".
He said violent acts had been committed by "a very small minority, in many cases individuals
from outside Ferguson". Reports suggest that Mr Holder is considering
opening a broader investigation into policing in Ferguson in general, following several
allegations of police misconduct. The New York Times reports that under Mr Holder,
the Justice Department has ordered over twice as many such department-wide investigations
than before. Heavy-handed
Many local residents believe officer Darren Wilson, who shot Michael Brown, has not been
punished. He has been placed on administrative leave.
Witnesses have said Mr Brown was shot as he held his hands up in a position of surrender,
while the police and supporters of Mr Wilson have said he fired during a fight with Mr
Brown. The police response, flooding the town with
hundreds of officers in riot gear, has been criticised as heavy-handed.
Authorities were also criticised for not being transparent enough in the immediate aftermath
of the shooting.