Republican congressman apologises after saying Charlotte protesters 'hate white people'

A Republican congressman who represents the Charlotte area has apologised after saying that people are protesting in the city because they "hate white people".

In an interview with BBC's Newsnight, US Rep Robert Pittenger was asked what grievances the protesters have.

To which the congressman replied: "The grievance in their mind is — the animus, the anger — they hate white people because white people are successful and they're not."

Protests in the North Carolina city of Charlotte have entered their third night after police shot and killed a black man while they were looking for a different person.

He also complained that the government has spent too much on welfare programs that ultimately hold people back.

Mr Pittenger later released a statement apologising for what he said.

The North Carolina Democratic Party released a statement saying Pittenger's remarks were inexcusable and accused him of "fanning the flames of hate with his racist rhetoric."