Norway seeks US explanation in surveillance row

Norway demanded on Friday an explanation from the United States of reports that its embassy in Oslo has conducted illegal surveillance of Norwegian residents for more than 10 years.

Norwegian television station TV2 reported this week that a team of US agents and retired Norwegian security officers have conducted illegal "systematic surveillance" from a base near the US embassy in Oslo.

"We are awaiting clarifications from the American side," said foreign ministry spokesperson Marte Lerberg Kopstad. "We of course expect all entities in Norway, including embassies, to follow Norwegian law."

TV2 did not say exactly what the team has been doing but the report has angered Norwegian politicians.

US Embassy spokesperson Tim Moore said Washington sought to "work very closely with host country authorities" on security issues.

"Norway is a friend and ally," he said in an e-mailed statement. "We are prepared to work intensively to address any questions the Norwegian government might have on this or any other matter."

Earlier this year police said three men arrested in Norway and Germany on suspicion of having links to al-Qaeda had been planning to hit targets in Norway and Denmark. One of the three was released last month.

Justice minister Knut Storberget told Reuters he had asked Norwegian police and security services to tell him what they knew about the reported US programme, whether it broke the law and whether any Norwegian authorities had approved it.

Any organisation may secure its own building and register visitors, he said, but Norwegian police and security have "a monopoly" on methods such as room and telephone surveillance. "I think we are capable of taking care of people's security here in this country," he said.