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              US Missouri Police Use Smoke, Tear Gas On Protesters

   by VOA News

   Authorities say one person was shot and critically wounded and seven
   people arrested early Sunday morning as police used smoke and tear gas
   to enforce a curfew in the U.S. town of Ferguson, Missouri.

   The town near St. Louis in the center of the country is where a black
   unarmed teenager was shot and killed by a white police officer on
   August 9.

   The governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon, declared a state of emergency and
   imposed the curfew following several nights of clashes sparked by the
   deadly shooting.

   Nixon said Saturday the state of emergency was not to silence people
   but to contain a handful of looters who are endangering the community.
   At a news conference, Nixon said he was committed to making sure the
   forces of peace and justice prevail.  He also thanked citizens who
   tried to stop looters from ransacking stores Friday.

   The latest violence came after Ferguson police released reports that
   included video they said showed Michael Brown involved in a robbery and
   confrontation with a convenience store clerk, shortly before Brown was
   shot and killed.

   Crowds gathered Friday night near that store.  Some protesters broke
   away from the large group and looted several stores while other
   demonstrators urged them to stop.

   Some protesters threw bottles and other objects at police in riot gear
   who arrived at the scene.

   The incident happened despite calls for calm from Brown's family.

   On Friday, Police Chief Thomas Jackson said the officer who shot Brown
   initially stopped him because the teenager was blocking traffic as he
   walked down the street.  Police later said the officer did not know
   Brown was a robbery suspect.

   Jackson identified the officer as Darren Wilson, a six-year veteran of
   the force with no disciplinary record.  Wilson has been on
   administrative leave since the shooting. Jackson characterized Wilson
   as a "gentle, quiet man" who "never intended for any of this to
   happen."

   The incident has also sparked vigils by thousands of people across the
   United States.

   At solidarity events held in nearly 100 cities Thursday, protesters
   observed a moment of silence for the teenager and others who have died
   at the hands of police.

   Also Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama said, "There is never an
   excuse for violence against police, or for those who would use this
   tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting.''

   He said there is no excuse for police to use excessive force against
   peaceful protests or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully
   exercising their First Amendment rights.

   [Some information for this report comes from AP and Reuters.]
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/missouri-protests-reignite/2415486.html