Authorities in Ferguson used tear gas to disperse protesters on Monday night as demonstrations continued in the St. Louis suburb following the shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Some protesters had to be treated for smoke inhalation amid heightened racial tensions between the predominantly black community and the mostly white Ferguson Police Department.

Brown was shot at least six times on 9 August including twice in the head, according to pathologists and the family's attorneys.

His death sparked rancorous protests in the St. Louis suburb, so much so that Governor Jay Nixon ordered a midnight curfew over the weekend, and the National Guard were brought in to help keep the peace.

In Washington, US President Barack Obama said in a news conference that Attorney General Eric Holder would arrive in Ferguson on Wednesday to meet with FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and other officials carrying out an independent federal investigation into Brown's death.

AP TELEVISION

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Protesters on street, coughing and walking around in remains of tear gas

2. Wide of protesters

3. Man with his face covered making gesture with his arm

4. Various of people being treated after inhaling tear gas

5. Protesters on street, zoom into man wearing white T-shirt

6. Man wearing blue shirt getting up off the ground

7. Armoured vehicle driving through Ferguson

The streets of Ferguson were filled with tear gas on Monday night as a tense standoff between police and protesters continued following the shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Officers used bullhorns to order people out of the street and deployed noisemakers and armoured vehicles to push demonstrators back.

Brown was shot at least six times on 9 August including twice in the head, according to pathologists and the family's attorneys.

His death sparked rancorous protests in the St. Louis suburb, so much so that Governor Jay Nixon ordered a midnight curfew over the weekend, and the National Guard were brought in to help keep the peace.

In Washington, US President Barack Obama said in a news conference that Attorney General Eric Holder would arrive in Ferguson on Wednesday to meet with FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and other officials carrying out an independent federal investigation into Brown's death.

AP TELEVISION

1. Various of protesters running from tear gas in the street

2. Police vehicles arriving at scene

3. Fires burning at side of road, pan to protesters

4. Various of protesters

5. Various of scuffles between two men, one man is pushed to floor

6. Wide of protesters, pan left to police line up

Protesters returned to the streets of Ferguson on Wednesday evening as tensions remained high after more than a week of unrest fuelled by the fatal shooting of black 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Police continued to stand guard in the St.Louis suburb, but the number of protesters was smaller than previous nights and many officers wore regular uniforms rather than riot gear.

Members of the crowd escorted one woman out of the area who was holding a sign that some interpreted as being supportive of the police.

Earlier on Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder sought to reassure the people of Ferguson about the investigation into Brown's death on 9 August.

Holder met with federal officials in Ferguson investigating the shooting.

He also met with Brown's parents.

"Our investigation is different from that which the state is doing. We are looking for violations of federal criminal civil rights statutes," said Holder.

In nearby Clayton, a grand jury began hearing evidence to determine whether the officer, Darren Wilson, should be charged in Brown's death.

A spokesman for St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said there was no timeline for the process, but it could take weeks.

Clinton Stancil, a St. Louis church pastor, said black men had been marginalised and "dehumanised in every city in America," adding that the "Mike Brown situation has brought this whole thing to a head".

AP TELEVISION

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Police officers making an arrest

2. Pan of protesters

3. Police officer on street, UPSOUND (English) "Keep moving."

4. Protesters escorting woman - who was holding a sign that some interpreted as supporting the police.- out of the area

5. Protesters surrounding police vehicle

6. Woman holding sign reading (English) "Peaceful protesters=Guns down"

7. Protesters chanting (English) "I am...Mike Brown"

8. Various of protesters chanting (English)"No justice, no peace"

POOL

++INTERIOR SHOTS++

9. Eric Holder, US Attorney General (centre) in conference room

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Holder, US Attorney General:

"Now our investigation is different from that which the state is doing. We are looking for violations of federal criminal civil rights statutes, which is different from what the local investigation is. But we have brought a substantial number of people here, a number of agents here who have done a great job in the canvassing that they did over the past weekend. They continue to follow leads so that we can do a thorough and a fair job about making a determination about what happened on August the 9th."

11. Wide of Holder and officials in conference room

AP TELEVISION

++DAY SHOTS++

12. Protesters marching, two women holding sign reading (English) "I am faith in action"

13. Protesters marching and holding placards

14. Protester with loudspeaker

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Clinton Stancil, St. Louis church pastor:

"This is just not about Ferguson. This has been going on in every city in America. Black young men have been marginalised, they have been dehumanised in every city in America, and so this is just, I think the Ferguson situation and Mike Brown situation has brought this whole thing to a head."

16. Protesters marching and sign reading (English) "End police brutality"

17. Protesters