Missouri governor appeals for calm

The governor of the US state of Missouri appealed for calm in a live press conference on Monday evening local time ahead of the much anticipated decision by a grand jury, expected to be announced at 02:00 UTC (8 p.m. local time).

Governor Jay Nixon called on the people of Ferguson to exercise tolerance, respect and restraint after the decision was announced. He also said the National Guard had been deployed to support the police service in an effort to ensure that any demonstrations as a result of the decision remained peaceful.

US President Barack Obama is among many others who have also appealed for calm ahead of the announcement of the decision, which the grand jury reached earlier on Monday.

A spokesman for the Brown family announced a few hours ago that they had been informed that a decision had been reached, but that they had not been told what this was.

Fears that violence could break out following the decision has led many shopkeepers to board up their shops. Schools in Ferguson also remained closed on Monday.

Violent protests

The fatal shooting of 18-year-old black high school graduate Michael Brown back in August sparked weeks of at times violent protests in Ferguson, as well as a debate across the United States about race relations and police tactics.

The circumstances surrounding Brown's death are disputed. Police have said that Brown was a suspect in a convenience store robbery, but that he was stopped by white police officer Darren Wilson for another reason.

According to the police, Brown then tried to grab the policeman's gun and was shot by Wilson. Some witnesses, though, say Brown had his hands raised in surrender when he was shot.

Results from a preliminary investigation conducted back in August found that the unarmed Brown was shot at least six times, with two bullets fired at his head.

There had been widespread speculation that a decision would be announced on Sunday, after police stepped up their presence around the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton, Missouri, where the grand jury was meeting. Largely peaceful protests were held in Ferguson over the weekend.

pfd/mr (Reuters, AFP, AP)