Norwegian to help revive Middle East peace

One of the small group of Norwegian officials who helped to broker the 1993 accords between Israel and the Palestinians has been given a new role in the peace process.

The official, Terje Roed-Larsen, has been appointed a special advisor on Middle East questions to the Norwegian government.

The Norwegian foreign ministry said Mr Roed-Larsen had good contacts with all sides in the Middle East: the government in Oslo thought it right to use these channels to help bring the peace process back on track.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service