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Ferguson unrest: Obama says Missouri town must unite

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President Obama says looting and attacks on police "undermine rather than advance justice"

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Michael Brown shooting

Three fatal minutes, several versions

Voices from Ferguson

Timeline of Michael Brown shooting

Military-style tactics

President Barack Obama has issued a fresh appeal for calm in Ferguson, Missouri, saying the community must "try to unite each other".

Unarmed teenager Michael Brown was shot by a police officer in the town on 9 August, sparking days of unrest.

Mr Obama said Attorney General Eric Holder would travel to Ferguson to meet officials carrying out an independent federal investigation into the killing.

The National Guard has been deployed to support police operations.

Mr Obama said he understood the "passions and anger" provoked by the death of the 18-year-old, who witnesses said tried to surrender to the police officer before he was shot multiple times.

But he said giving into anger "by looting or carrying guns and even attacking the police only serves to raise tensions and stir chaos".

"It undermines rather than advances justice," he said.

Demonstrators protest the killing of teenager Michael Brown on August 17, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.

Michael Brown's killing has exposed racial tensions in the majority-black suburb of St Louis

Members of the National Guard begin deploying in Ferguson

Troops from the National Guard have been deployed to provide protection and guard police central command

'Objects of fear'

Mr Obama said he recognised that in many communities in the US a "gulf of mistrust" existed between local residents and law enforcement.

"In too many communities, too many young men of colour are left behind and seen only as objects of fear," he said.

But he urged the community to look for understanding, and seek to heal.

During his news conference at the White House, Mr Obama gave his support to the decision by Missouri State Governor Jay Nixon to deploy the National Guard in Ferguson in a limited role.

Mr Nixon

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