The police chief of a US town in which an unarmed black teen was shot and killed by a white police officer last month has apologised for mistakes his force made following the fatal shooting.
Michael Brown was shot dead in Ferguson, Missouri on 9 August by a police officer, sparking nightly protests in the small town and igniting a national debate about race relations.
"For any mistakes I have made, I take full responsibility," Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson said in an online video.
"I am truly sorry for the loss of your son," he added, addressing Mr Brown's parents.
The college-bound teen was shot at least six times by police officer Darren Wilson and his body was left in the street for several hours before it was removed.
"I'm also sorry that it took so long to remove Michael from the street," Mr Thomas added.
"It was just too long and I'm truly sorry for that. Please know that the investigating officers meant no disrespect," he said, adding "they were simply trying to do their jobs".
Violence rocked Ferguson - a St Louis suburb of 21,000 with an African-American majority and an overwhelmingly white police department and town council - prompting Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to briefly call in the National Guard to quell protests.
Some demonstrators complained that police used undue force against peaceful protests, for which Mr Thomas apologised.
"If anyone who was peacefully exercising that right is upset and angry, I feel responsible and I am sorry," he said.
"I'm also aware of the pain and the feeling of mistrust felt in some of the African-American community towards the police department," he added. "It is clear we have much work to do."
In the wake of the protests, US Attorney General Eric Holder announced on 18 September a $4.7m (€3.7m) programme to shore up police-community relations.
The circumstances of Mr Brown's death are contested, with police claiming that Mr Brown, accused of stealing a box of cigars, was shot after a struggle with Mr Wilson.
But other witnesses say the teenager put his hands up to surrender before Mr Wilson opened fire.
Mr Wilson has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
