Oslo - A former Norwegian top diplomat who in 1985 was given a 20-year sentence for espionage failed Monday to get a new hearing.

Arne Treholt's appeal was rejected by the Norwegian Criminal Cases Review Commission which conducted a lengthy investigation, commission chairwoman Janne Kristiansen said. One of the five members on the panel favoured a new review, Kristiansen said.

The independent commission was created in 2004 and can order a review if "new evidence or new circumstances" come to light or if a criminal offence was committed by investigators, prosecutors, defence lawyer or others.

Treholt was arrested in 1984 and was convicted the following year for handing over classified information to the Soviet Union and the Iraqi intelligence service.

Treholt, 66, has always denied the charges. He has, however, conceded that he met with a KGB officer and violated his civil servant's code of silence.

At the time of his arrest he was a spokesman for the foreign ministry.

In 1992 he was released from prison on health reasons. It was the third time the former diplomat and member of the Norwegian Labour Party has tried to get the sentence overturned and clear his name.

After his release, he has lived in Russia and also in Cyprus. Treholt a few years ago published the autobiographical book Grasoner (Grey Zones). (dpa)