The Scottish First Minister has dismissed claims that a police force's trial of Taser stun guns was breaking the law.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International said the Strathclyde Police Taser pilot was "clearly unlawful" under European law.

Amnesty wrote to the Scottish Government to request an immediate end to the trial and a public consultation on the role of Tasers in policing.

Alex Salmond told First Minister's Questions yesterday that his administration has no say over firearms legislation because it is a power held by Westminster.

He said: "I don't agree with the legal advice. Scottish ministers, at present, have no power to issue guidance on the use of firearms, including Tasers, since the matter is reserved.

"Of course, one of the areas of co-operation that may emerge very soon in this Parliament is to press for the devolution of responsibility on such matters, indeed the full devolution of powers for firearms."

Amnesty claims that a European Court ruling says governments have a duty to define the circumstances in which police can use force and guns. Firearms legislation classes Tasers as weapons.

Mr Salmond said: "The deployment of Tasers is an operational matter for chief constables. The purpose of the pilot in Strathclyde is to test the effective use of Tasers by specially trained officers.

"Our police are highly professional, we do trust them to make sound judgments on the use of Tasers, taking into account, of course, concerns for community safety and human rights."

Thirty Strathclyde officers are taking part in the six-month trial in South Lanarkshire.

The First Minister rejected a request by Nationalist MSP Bob Doris to draw up a code of practice on the use of Tasers "given the ongoing legal debate"