2nd LD: Obama says no excuse for Baltimore violence

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday there is no excuse for that kind of violence that occurred in Baltimore, the largest city of U.S. State of Maryland, in the past days.

"They're not protesting, they're not making a statement, they' re stealing," Obama told a joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, referring to those involved in violence, looting and arson after the funeral held for Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African American who died after suffering a spine injury in police custody earlier this month.

The man's death had triggered week-long protests since April 19 and developed into riots over the weekend.

"They're destroying and undermining businesses and opportunities in their own communities that rob jobs and opportunity from people in that area," the President added.

The public comments are Obama's first since violence began in Baltimore on Monday afternoon and continued overnight, following more than 200 arrests and 140 fires, according to the Baltimore police department.

Meanwhile, Obama said that recent incidents of the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers around the country " raise troubling questions."

"Full transparency" is needed on the death of Gray, Obama said, adding that police departments and local communities have to do some "soul searching."

The riots started on the Monday afternoon at a mall in downtown Baltimore, where hundreds of police officers were confronted with protesters and were pelted with water bottles and rocks.

Baltimore police department said, 15 police officers were wounded by rock throwing, several of whom suffered serious injuries. Police from nearby towns converged to help restore order on the street. Endite