The lawyer for the Norwegian gunman who claimed responsibility for killing 76 people in twin attacks last week said Tuesday that everything about his client's case indicates he is "insane".
"This whole case indicates that he's insane," Geir Lippestad told journalists of Anders Behring Breivik, and said a medical evaluation would be done to establish his psychiatric condition.
'IN A WAR'
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"He believes that he's in a war and he believes that when you're in a war you can do things like that without pleading guilty," the lawyer said of the 32-year-old Norwegian who claims to be trying to bring about an anti-Muslim revolution.
Asked about the implications of his client being adjudged medically insane after blowing up the government centre in Oslo and shooting dead 68 people on a nearby island, Lippestad said: "He can't be punished in a jail."
Also Tuesday, Norwegian authorities indicated they may charge the suspect with crimes against humanity as the government rose to the defence of police following criticism of the response to the island shooting spree.
US President Barack Obama visited the residence of the Norwegian ambassador Tuesday to offer his condolences.
"To the people of Norway -- we are heartbroken by the tragic loss of so many people, particularly youth with the fullness of life ahead of them," Obama wrote in a condolence registry.
"No words can ease the sorrow but please know that the thoughts and prayers of all Americans are with the people of Norway, and that we will stand beside you every step of the way, Barack Obama."
'DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN'
Lippestad, appearing to pave the way for a defence that could see his client escape prison, said Behring Breivik "has a view on reality that is very, very difficult to explain."
He said his client used unspecified drugs to make himself "strong, efficient, to keep him awake" going into Friday's rampage.
"He thought he'd be killed after the bombing, after the action on the island, and he also thought he'd be killed at trial," Lippestad said.
In fact, "he was a little bit surprised that he succeeded, that in his mind he succeeded."
Behring Breivik wrote and published a 1,500-page manifesto before starting his bombing and shooting spree.
="He believes this war will continue for 60 years and in 60 years this war will be won," Lippestad said of the preparations painstakingly chronicled in the tract.
In Oslo, the head of the Labour Party's youth movement vowed to restore its summer camp on the island.
"We are sending a clear message: we are going to reclaim the island," party youth leader Eskil Andersen said.
MONEY TO RESTORE ISLAND
A Norwegian businessman has pledged around 600,000 euros to redevelop the island, 40 kilometres northwest of Oslo.
Faced with the worst crimes on its territory since World War II, many in Norway have been dismayed by the prospect that the perpetrator could serve just 21 years behind bars -- the maximum sentence for the terrorism charges Behring Breivik currently faces.
But prosecutor Christian Hatlo told the Aftenposten newspaper that police are considering charging him with crimes against humanity for the bombing of Oslo's government district and a shooting bloodbath on a nearby island.
Behring Breivik admitted carrying out the attacks at his first court appearance on Monday when he was remanded in custody for eight weeks.
He says he was on a Crusade to save Norway and Western Europe from a Muslim invasion and that the attack on the Labour Party-led government and its youth wing were "cruel" but "necessary".
NAMES RELEASED
Police meanwhile released the names of three people killed in the Oslo car bombing and a 23-year-old man who died on the island.
The police have come in for heavy criticism over the time it took them to reach Utoeya island where Behring Breivik shot dead 68 of his victims in a spree that lasted around 90 minutes.
It also emerged Monday that police investigated Behring Breivik in March for a purchase of chemicals, but that the probe was dropped.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Norway's Justice Minister Knut Storberget rejected criticism of a response delay, saying the force had "delivered extremely well" and done "fantastic" work.
The manifesto saw Behring Breivik boast that he was one of up to 80 "solo martyr cells" recruited across Western Europe to topple governments tolerant of Islam.
Police are probing his claim that he is part of a network with more active cells.
Lippestad said that one of the reasons Behring Breivik's first court appearance on Monday was behind closed doors was for fear he would send coded signals to other cells.
His client was disappointed that the hearing had not been open to the public, Lippestad added.
