Anders Behring Breivik trial: Norway sets TV limits

Breivik has been charged with committing acts of terror

Norway will ban television cameras from key parts of the trial of mass killer Anders Behring Breivik, including statements by him and witnesses.

Opening and closing remarks by the prosecution and defence lawyers will be televised, Oslo District Court said.

Norway's national broadcaster NRK has the contract to televise the trial, which is expected to open on 16 April.

Breivik, 33, admitted killing 77 people in twin attacks last July. He targeted Norway's ruling Labour Party.

On Wednesday, Breivik, whose attacks also left 242 people injured, was charged with committing acts of terror.

The Oslo court said the verdict at the end of the trial would be broadcast.

More than 1,000 journalists are accredited to cover the trial, which will be an extraordinary number for Norway, a country traumatised by Breivik's atrocity. The Oslo court is being rebuilt to handle the influx of international media.

Prosecutors have indicated they consider Breivik mentally ill and will seek to have him committed to psychiatric care rather than jailed.

There are more than 1,000 aggrieved parties, many of whom will go to local courts to watch the parts of the trial that can be televised.

NRK's full recording of the trial will be kept in Norway's national archives. "The Court recommends that it should not be released or published for 25 years," the Oslo court press release said on Friday.

The court has not yet decided whether to allow broadcasting of the statements of professional witnesses such as police investigators or psychiatrists.