Obama condemns shooting of police in Ferguson

President Obama condemned the recent shootings of two police officers in Ferguson, Mo., saying protests over the city's treatment of minorities does not justify such counter-violence.

"There was no excuse for criminal acts," Obama said during his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

"Whoever fired those shots shouldn't detract from the issue -- they're criminals," Obama said. "They need to be arrested."

There have been protests in Ferguson since last year's police shooting and killing of an unarmed black man.

"What we need to do," Obama told Kimmel, "is to make sure that like-minded, good-spirited people on both sides -- law enforcement who have a terrifically tough job and people who understandably don't want to be stopped and harassed just because of their race -- that we're able to work together to try to come up with some good answers."