Norway child porn raids net 150

Arrests made in Norway could be part of a international pedophile network

OSLO, Norway -- More than 150 members of an alleged paedophile network have been arrested in raids across Norway.

The raids, carried out by Norway's National Crime Police, also seized video tapes, photographs and computer material showing sexual abuse of children.

Police feared some suspects could also have sexually abused children and said more arrests could be made once the seized material had been analysed.

Norwegian police said the arrests could turn out to be the tip of a larger international paedophile network and will continue investigations, the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten reported.

Police said that 90 of those charged on Thursday admitted in questioning to possessing child pornography.

A police statement said: "Large quantities of child pornography material have been seized in what was the largest such coordinated action in the country."

Possession of child pornography can carry a two-year jail sentence in Norway, The Associated Press reported.

UK parliamentary clerk charged

In a separate move a senior office clerk at the UK's House of Commons has been charged with making indecent images of children, Scotland Yard has confirmed.

Philip Lyon, 37, from Basildon, Essex, was charged with 10 counts of making indecent images of children the UK's Press Association said.

Lyon's main duties are arranging Prime Minister's Question Time for Tony Blair on Wednesday afternoons.