An immigrant from Mali has died after French police shot him twice with a Taser electric stun gun during a fracas, officials say.
Police said the 38-year-old man had attacked officers with a hammer at a Paris apartment block after being asked for identity papers.
He was also tear-gassed and struck with a baton, an official added.
French prosecutors have ordered an inquiry to determine the exact cause of death.
However, correspondents say the death will revive controversy over the use of Tasers, which fire darts carrying a 50,000 volt shock.
The incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday when police were called to an argument at an apartment in the Paris suburb of Colombes involving the Malian, who was allegedly staying illegally in France. BBC News
