Washington, Sep 23 (IANS): Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump suggested that rival Hillary Clinton was responsible for unrest after police shootings of African-Americans, saying she "supported with a nod" the idea "that cops are a racist force to our society".

Clinton "shares directly in with the responsibility for the unrest that is afflicting our country," Trump told a crowd in suburban Philadelphia on Thursday, while the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, braced for a third night of protests following a fatal police shooting of a black man on Tuesday night.

"Rioting in the streets is a threat to all peaceful citizens and it must be ended and it must be ended now," Trump said.

Trump's remarks came as police confirmed the death of a protestor shot in demonstrations in the aftermath of the killing of Keith Scott in Charlotte, the Guardian reported.

Police and Scott's family have told contradictory accounts of the shooting, with officers alleging he had a gun and family saying he held a book.

Mike Pence, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, also spoke about the issue on Thursday, telling pastors in Colorado that he disagreed with protesters who have demonstrated against police abuses for nearly two years.

"Donald Trump and I believe that there's been far too much talk of institutional bias or racism within law enforcement," Pence said, insisting the issue was resolved. "We ought to set aside this talk about institutional racism and institutional bias."