Breivik: 'Death or acquittal'

Norwegian extremist Anders Behring Breivik, who has admitted to killing 77 people in a massacre last year in Oslo and on a nearbv island, said in court on Wednesday that he only saw two possible outcomes for his trial.

"There are only two legitimate outcomes of this case," he told the court: "Acquittal or the death penalty."

He also referred to Norway's maximum prison terms of 21 years as "pathetic."

Acquittal is unlikely since Breivik has admitted to the crimes, and Norway does not use the death penalty.

Prosecutors on Wednesday attempted to learn more about possible connections Breivik may have had to extremist networks in Norway or Europe. He had claimed to be a part of the Knights Templar, although that name has been attached to many different groups that do not foster the same beliefs as Breivik.

"The essence of the entire KT network is to tie a heroic act to (a militant nationalist) identity," the 33-year-old Breivik told the court. "That is what creates a foundation for continued resistance."

However, Breivik was reluctant to go into more details about the organization, which the prosecution doubts exists in the way he describes it, for fear of "(shedding) light on details that could lead to arrest."

Judge removed

On Tuesday, when Breivik took to the stand for the first time, he said he was acting in self-defense to protect Norway from Muslims by attacking the left-leaning political party he blamed for the country's immigration policies.

"The attacks on July 22 were preventive attacks, and I can therefore not acknowledge criminal guilt," Breivik said.

He also added he would commit the same acts again.

Breivik's testimony was delayed on Tuesday after one of the five judges in the trial was dismissed over revelations that he had posted a comment on Facebook saying Breivik deserved the death penalty.

"The death penalty is the only fair outcome in this case!!!!" citizen judge Thomas Indreboe wrote a day after the July 22 attacks.

After a 30-minute recess to reach the decision, Indreboe was replaced by backup lay judge Elisabeth Wisloeff.

The trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks, with the next four days set aside for Breivik's testimony.

mz/pfd (AFP, AP)