Poles' new protest laws diluted at church request

The Polish parliament approved a tightening of laws to prevent opposition protests, but parliamentary sources said the proposals had been modified after strong protests from the Roman Catholic Church.

The sources said amendments to the penal code that would have broadened the scope of the law against disseminating false information were being dropped. But parliament still approved a maximum three-year term for people taking part in a banned organization like the Solidarity trade union.