Anders Behring Breivik the right-wing fanatic who confessed to killing 77 people in a bomb-and-shooting massacre has pleaded, not guilty, as his trial starts today in Oslo. He is facing charges of terrorism and premeditated murder, in Norway's biggest murder trial since the Second World War.

In the packed courtroom he smiled as his handcuffs were removed by a guard. The anti-Muslim militant then defiantly flashed a closed-fist salute, before shaking hands with prosecutors and court officials.

Breivik attacked a youth camp organised by the governing Labour party, after setting off a car bomb in the capital. He has admitted to the attacks, claiming they were necessary to protect Norway from being taken over by Muslims, but has rejected criminal guilt.

The key issue to be resolved during the 10-week trial is the state of Breivik's mental health as controversially the prosecution found him insane and his defence sane. If the court decides he is criminally insane, he will be committed to psychiatric care; if he is judged to be mentally sane; he will be jailed for up to 21 years.