Breivik did not recognise The Norwegian Court

The trial against Anders Behring Breivik, accused of murder and terrorism. opened at the Oslo City Court (Tinghus) on Monday. During the opening session, Breivik said he did not recognise the Norwegian court. Behring Breivik is accused of killing 77 people - eight in the car bomb attack against the main Government office building in Oslo, and the rest, mainly teenagers, at a political youth camp on Utøya Island, an annual camp organised by the youth branch of the governing Labour Party.

Breivik has confessed to the killings, but denies criminal responsibility. He claims he is waging a war against an Islamic take-over of Norway.

The trial is expected to last at least ten weeks.

Already two hours before the court room opened, long lines had formed outside the court house, by people who wanted secure a seat in the public gallery. In addition, there are overflow auditoriums with video coverage of the trial nearby.

Since the participants at the Utøya youth camp came from the whole nation, is has also been decided to transmit the court proceedings in Oslo to court rooms in 17 Norwegian cities, to allow believed and survivors to follow the trial as close to their home as possible.

Strict security measures are in place in and around the Oslo City Court House, similar to those at an airport check-in, and a large number of police and security guards are called out. Nearby streets are closed to all traffic.