Norway PM calls on political leaders to show restraint
Norway's Prime Minister has called on political leaders to show public restraint as the country emerges from mourning the 77 victims of the bombing and youth camp massacre.
Jens Stoltenberg seemed to be referring to sometimes harsh discussions on immigration when he told parliament that the July 22 attacks gave reason to reflect on "what we have thought, said and written".
"We all have something to learn from the tragedy," he told MPs at a ceremony honouring the victims. "We can all have a need to say: 'I was wrong', and be respected for it."
That goes for politicians and newsroom editors, in everyday conversations and on the internet, the prime minister said.
"Our promise is that we take with us the spirit of July 22 when political work resumes. We will behave with the same wisdom and respect as the Norwegian people," he said.
Norway's political parties have agreed to postpone campaigning for local elections in September until mid-August, as the nation mourns the eighth people killed in the Oslo bombing and the 69 victims of the shooting rampage at an annual summer retreat held by the youth wing of the prime minister's Labour Party.
Killer Anders Breivik says his attacks were an attempt at cultural revolution, aimed at purging Europe of Muslims and punishing politicians that have embraced multiculturalism.
Although investigators believe the 32-year-old acted alone, they are searching his computer and phone records for any signs of contact with other right-wing extremists who may have helped or influenced him.
The scope of the attacks continues to haunt Norway, more than a week later, as victims from the youth camp massacre are being buried across the country.
The attacks were unprecedented in peaceful Norway. But Breivik's anti-Muslim rants on political blogs did not attract much attention before them, showing how common such views have become.
Norway's Progress Party, the country's biggest mainstream voice against immigration, has confirmed that Breivik used to be a member of the party.
It strongly condemned his actions and voiced its sympathies for the Labour Party in the aftermath of the attacks.
