Norway gunman's lawyer: Breivik is insane and thinks he is a warrior

Mass killer Anders Breivik is insane and sees himself as a saviour and a warrior, his lawyer said this afternoon after visiting him in jail in Oslo.

Geir Lippestad said the Right-wing extremist told him he had not expected to survive his murderous attacks on Friday or the journey to court yesterday.

Mr Lippestad said Breivik believed he was engaged in a war. He also revealed that Breivik had taken "some kind of drugs" to stay "strong and awake" before he embarked on the bombing and shooting spree which claimed 76 lives.

The lawyer said everything indicated that his client was "insane" but added that it was too early to say if he would plead insanity in court. In an effort to explain Breivik's motivation for the twin atrocities, he said: "He says he is sorry he had to do this but it was necessary to start a revolution in the Western world.

"He hates all the Western ideas and the values of democracy ... he expects that this is the start of a war that will last 60 years. He looks upon himself as a warrior." He said the 32-year-old son of a diplomat was calm but described him as a "very cold" person.

Mr Lippestad, a member of the Labour party whose youth wing was the target of Breivik's attack on the island summer camp, said Breivik had claimed that he was part of an anti-Islamic network.

The lawyer said Breivik talks about two cells in Norway but several cells abroad. The lawyer, who describes his client's actions as absurd and horrible, revealed that Breivik, who is being held in solitary confinement, had asked how many people he had killed.

He also said his first court hearing yesterday was held behind closed doors amid fears his client could send signals to other cells, if they exist.

Breivik has confessed to last week's bombing in Norway's capital and a shooting rampage on the island of Utoya.

The Christian extremist appeared in court to face charges of "destabilising vital functions of society, including government, and causing serious fear in the population".

He has pleaded not guilty to the terrorism charges he faces, claiming he acted to save Europe from what he says is Muslim colonisation.

Mr Lippestad says he will not take instructions from his client but that someone has to do the job of defending him.