Trial of Norway gunman begins

OSLO- Upon arriving in the courtroom, Breivik made a far-right salute after his handcuffs were taken off.

Lead judge Wenche Elizabeth Arntzen opened the proceedings, which are expected to focus on whether or not Breivik is sane.

Shortly thereafter, Breivik, who presented himself to the court as a "writer", told the judges he did not recognise the court's legitimacy.

"I do not recognise the Norwegian court," he said in a brief statement.

In the 1,500 page manifesto Breivik posted online shortly before the July 22 attacks, he described the farright salute as "the clenched fist salute" of the Knights Templar organisation.

"The raised fist salute consists of raising the right arm with a clenched fist (preferably with a white glove). The clenched fist symbolises strength, honour and defiance against the Marxist tyrants of Europe while the white glove symbolizes purity, duty, kinship and martyrdom," it said.