The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association yesterday urged the province's solicitor general to take Tasers away from police until training on the device is increased and more checks are implemented for its use, Canada ’s CanWest News Service reports. The call comes fewer than two weeks after Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski died at Vancouver International Airport after being shocked with a Taser by police.

'Policing will not grind to a halt without the Taser. It is only one among a wide array of intermediate force options available to police,' association president Jason Gratl said in a news release.  

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According to The Associated Press, the lower chamber of the Czech parliament voted last week to tighten rules for immigrants seeking permanent residency in this European Union country. The vote passed 84-2, with 70 deputies abstaining. The bill still must be approved by the parliament's upper chamber and by President Vaclav Klaus.

The Interior Ministry, which proposed the amendment, said it was necessary as the country was set join the EU borderless travel zone in December together with eight other new EU members. Critics argued the measure would worsen living conditions for couples.

Among the most notable changes, a citizen from a non-EU country who marries a Czech national would have to wait two years before receiving a residency permit, rather than receiving it immediately as is now the case.  Foreigners also would need to prove ability to speak Czech.  The measure does not apply to citizens of other EU countries.

The ministry said the number of fake weddings had increased significantly in recent years, but gave no details.