Coalition takes office in Norway

Oslo - A centre-right coalition headed by a Lutheran pastor and Christian Democrat deputy, the Rev Kjell Magne Bondevik (54), …

Oslo - A centre-right coalition headed by a Lutheran pastor and Christian Democrat deputy, the Rev Kjell Magne Bondevik (54), took office Norway yesterday, two days after the outgoing Labour government resigned following its worst electoral defeat in nearly a century.

This is Mr Bondevik's second term as prime minister. He held the post from 1997 until March 2000, when an environmental dispute brought down his minority coalition.