Cincinnati rioting 'under control'

Few broke the curfew - those who did were detained

Heavily armed police and a dusk-to-dawn curfew appear to have contained rioting and looting in the US city of Cincinnati - at least overnight.

The tight security measures were ordered by the city's mayor after four days of street violence triggered by the fatal police shooting of a black man.

They sent a message that actually woke up this city

Reverend Daman Lynch

Apart from a strong police presence, the streets of Cincinnati were virtually deserted during the night, with only a few arrests of people breaking the curfew reported.

But the BBC's Mike Donkin says the real test will come on Saturday, when the funeral takes place of Timothy Thomas, the unarmed teenager who was shot dead by a white police officer trying to arrest him.

President George W Bush has urged the people of Cincinnati to remain calm and has sent two Justice Department officials to the city to serve as mediators.

"The president understands the very strong emotions involved, and he joins Cincinnati and Ohio leaders in their appeal to the people of Cincinnati for calm and a non-violent resolution to the current situation," said a White House spokesman.

But black community leaders say the riots come as no surprise -Thomas is the 15th black suspect killed by the Cincinnati police in the past six years.

Message sent

On Thursday, Mayor Charles Luken declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew from 2000 (midnight GMT) until 0600, with only those people going to and from work allowed on the streets.

Community leaders believe they have made their point

He has said the measure will remain in place for as long as necessary.

"The citizens are tired," said Mayor Luken.

"Black citizens are tired, they're scared in their homes. White citizens are tired, they're targeted in their cars.

"I think we have to exercise unprecedented ... measures, to protect those citizens and to protect our police officers."

But the Reverend Daman Lynch, who runs a local church, says the rioters only wanted to send a message.

"There is no violence tonight and those that were rioting, if you talk to them, they had no intention of rioting forever.

"They relied on their leaders after 14 deaths, to negotiate, to bring about plans but there was no action. And after the 15th, they wanted to send a message and... they sent a message that actually woke up this city."

Violence

On Wednesday night, groups of demonstrators smashed windows, looted shops and assaulted at least one white motorist, dragging her from her car before others came to her aid.

Black citizens are tired, they're scared in their homes. White citizens are tired, they're targeted in their cars

Mayor Charles Luken

A police officer was shot, but escaped serious injury because the buckle of his gun belt deflected the bullet.

The violence carried on into Thursday morning.

Many of the city's break-ins were in the Over-the-Rhine neighbourhood, a poor and predominantly black district just north of Cincinnati's city centre.

At least 60 people have been injured since the violence began on Monday, and more than 80 arrested.

'Real problem'

The riots followed Saturday's fatal shooting of Timothy Thomas,19.

Shops have been boarded up after widespread looting

Mr Thomas was shot as he fled Officer Steven Roach, who was trying to arrest him for failing to appear in court on misdemeanour and traffic charges.

The police union said Officer Roach had feared for his life during the encounter.

The FBI has launched a civil rights investigation into the shooting.

Tensions have been rising between blacks and the Cincinnati police department over the past few years.

Mayor Luken has acknowledged there is "a real problem with race relations."