Ferguson Unrest: Protests Grow Calmer

A few dozen protesters have gathered overnight in Ferguson, after a group of demonstrators stormed into the City Hall in St Louis.

Following large demonstrations and rioting, the number of protesters in the Missouri town dwindled amid dreary weather and a beefed-up security operation.

There was no repeat of the arson and looting that convulsed the community on Monday night after it was announced that a white police officer would not face charges for shooting a black teenager, Michael Brown.

Several protesters hurled abuse at the assembled National Guard troops, but most stood quietly in a light drizzle.

A white man said to the reserve troops: "This ain't your fight", while a black protester shouted at the police: "You just b****** with badges!"

Another protester wished the law enforcement officials a happy Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, people began cleaning up this battered community and seeking something closer to a normal routine.

Earlier on Wednesday, police fired pepper gas at marchers who held mock trials for Darren Wilson, the officer who shot Mr Brown on 9 August, and tried to storm St Louis city hall.

Protesters shouted "shame, shame" while running into the building and at least three people were arrested as the site was locked down by officers.

In the aftermath of Monday's violent protests, additional National Guard troops deployed to the St Louis suburb helped make protests on Tuesday night much calmer.

In contrast with the relatively subdued scenes in Ferguson, police arrested scores of people in California.

At least 130 demonstrators who refused to disperse were held in Los Angeles, while 35 people were detained in Oakland following a march that deteriorated into unrest and vandalism, according to police officials.

The protests have spread across America, as tens of thousands of people expressed their outrage.

In London, more than 1,000 people protested outside the US embassy to condemn the decision not to prosecute Officer Wilson.

Many of the demonstrators held placards saying "jail racist cops" and "black lives matter".

Meanwhile, Mr Brown's mother conducted several interviews on US networks on Wednesday to respond to Officer Wilson finally speaking out about the incident with her son.

Lesley McSpadden told CBS News she does not believe a word of what the officer has said both in his testimony and in an interview with ABC News.

She said Officer Wilson "wanted to kill someone" on the day he shot dead her 18-year-old son.

The Brown family is pressing the federal government to pursue charges in the case.

The Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Eric Holder, is conducting a civil rights investigation into the shooting.