US man dies in taped police fight

The scene was captured on police video

Civil rights groups in the US city of Cincinnati have called for an investigation into the death of a black man who was beaten by police.

The man, Nathaniel Jones, died in police custody following a videotaped scuffle with two white police officers.

The police said they were defending themselves against attack, but black community activists said it was an example of police brutality.

It comes three years after Cincinnati was hit by three nights of race riots.

Sunday's incident started when police were called to a fast-food restaurant in the early hours after reports that a man was being disorderly.

'Self-defence'

Two officers were seen on the videotape hitting the man with clubs after he ignored orders to "stay back" and tried to punch one of the officers in the face.

Police are investigating Nathaniel Jones's death

The officers knocked the man to the ground and struck him several times until they managed to handcuff him.

Four more officers arrived soon afterwards and the man was taken to hospital where he was declared dead.

A preliminary autopsy showed that 41-year-old Nathaniel Jones, who weighed 157 kilograms (350 pounds) had had an enlarged heart consistent with hypertensive heart disease. He was also found with cocaine in his bloodstream.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Richard Janke told reporters the officers had acted "consistent with our training procedures."

"It was a violent assault by a very large man," he said.

The prominent civil rights activist, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, is among those calling for Ohio state and federal authorities to investigate.

"Police officers have options available to immobilise citizens short of death," he said on Monday.

The six police officers involved in the arrest have been put on paid leave pending an internal investigation.

The 2001 race riots in the city were sparked by the shooting by police of a fleeing black teenager. The police officer was cleared of criminal charges.