US author Paul Beatty wins Man Booker Prize

Paul Beatty has became the first US author to win the Man Booker Prize for his novel "The Sellout", which the novelist said should not be read as a "mono-directional" take on race.

The jury behind the world's most prestigious English-language literary award said the novel was a "shocking and unexpectedly funny" portrayal of Beatty's native Los Angeles, using satire to explore racial equality in a fictional neighbourhood.

Beatty said readers should think of the novel as a work of fiction rather than solely focusing on race.

The winner of the Man Booker receives £52,500, ($64,100, 59,000 euros), although the real prize is seen as the huge sales prompted the moment judges announce their decision.

The Man Booker was launched in 1969 and has awarded writers including Ian McEwan, Iris Murdoch and Salman Rushdie.

It was only opened to non-Commonwealth authors from 2013 -- a decision that was highly controversial in Britain.