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