Brussels - NATO said Wednesday it was committed to keeping Afghan civilian casualties to a minimum and accused the Taliban insurgency of hiking their numbers by using them as human shields.

"Let no one doubt NATO's determination to reduce (civilian casualties) to a minimum," said James Appathurai, the alliance's spokesman.

"Let also no one doubt who is primarily responsible for civilian casualties," Appathurai said.

Oslo  - Norwegian energy giant Statoil Hydro's fourth-quarter net income has dropped 67 per cent on the previous year, the group said Tuesday, citing a drop in oil prices.

The stronger US dollar rate also impacted earnings, the state-controlled group said, reporting net income for the quarter of 2.0 billion kroner (291 million dollars) compared to 6.2 billion kroner for the corresponding quarter 2007.

Net operating income increased 22 per cent to 37.8 billion kroner, while turnover was up 3 per cent to 150 billion kroner.

Oslo - The Islamic Council of Norway on Monday distanced itself from remarks attributed to a leading Islamic scholar quoted as saying the Holocaust was a "divine punishment" against the Jews.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian-born, Qatar-based scholar made the alleged comments in a speech on the Arab broadcaster al-Jazeera in January, prompting widespread condemnation.

Dusseldorf, Germany  - Norway snatched a rare 1-0 win over Germany in a friendly international in Dusseldorf on Wednesday.

Christian Grindheim scored from close range in the 63rd minute to get a new spell in charge by coach Egil Olsen off to a winning start.

It was the second successive home defeat by Germany who had been beaten 2-1 by England in Berlin in November.

Norway, who were without a win in 2008, were full value for their first victory against Germany since the 1936 Olympics.

Dusseldorf, Germany  - Norway snatched a rare 1-0 win over Germany in a friendly international in Dusseldorf on Wednesday.

It was the second successive home defeat by Germany who had been beaten 2-1 by England in Berlin in November.

Christian Grindheim scored from close range in the 63rd minute to get a new spell in charge by coach Egil Olsen off to a winning start.

Norway, who were without a win in 2008, were full value for their first victory against Germany since the 1936 Olympics.

Oslo - Norwegian telecommunications group Telenor Wednesday said its 2008 fourth quarter earnings increased year-on-year, but added it would not pay a dividend since it wanted to secure cash flow.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were 9.9 billion kroner (1.47 billion dollars), compared to 8.8 billion kroner in the corresponding business period of 2007.

Sales in the quarter were up 4 per cent year-on-year to 29.9 billion kroner.