Norway massacre gunman Anders Behring Breivik was denied his chance to spout his twisted beliefs on a world stage today when a judge ruled his remand hearing be held in secret.

He is now to be held in complete isolation after the hearing in which he said his terror network had two other cells.

Breivik pleaded not guilty and said he wanted to save Norway and Europe from a Muslim takeover, Judge Kim Heger said after the hearing.

The death toll was revised to 76 today from the figure of 93 given yesterday.

Breivik could tamper with evidence if released, and he will be held for at least another two months without access to visitors, mail or media, the judge said.

Breivik made clear in an internet manifesto that he planned to turn his court appearance into theatre, preparing a speech for his appearance in court even before launching the attacks, and then requesting an open hearing in which he would wear a uniform. Both of those requests were denied.

He claimed his bombing and shooting spree were "marketing" for his manifesto calling for a revolution that would rid Europe of Muslims, he said.

Reporters and locals thronged the court today ahead of the hearing for their first glimpse of Breivik since the assault. When one car drove through the crowd, people hit its windows and one person shouted an expletive, believing Breivik was inside.

The hearing ended after about 35 minutes.

"It is clear that there is concrete information that a public hearing with the suspect present could quickly lead to an extraordinary and very difficult situation in terms of the investigation and security," Judge Heger said.

The court acknowledged that there was a need for transparency in the case and that it normally would consider arguments from the press when making decisions to close hearings but said that was not possible "for practical reasons."

It was unusual for the hearing to be closed even before it began. Normally, a judge would make such a decision in open court.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg led the mourning nation in a minute of silence, standing on the steps of Oslo university next to a flame. The king and queen stood by as well, and neighbouring countries Denmark and Sweden also joined in the remembrance.

Some Signs of normality began to return to Oslo on Monday. A wide police cordon around the bomb site was lifted on the first work day since the attacks, leaving just a narrower zone closed off. Most shops were open and trams were rumbling through the city's streets.

But the flag on the court where Breivik appeared remained at half mast.

The search for more victims continues and police have not released the names of the dead. But Norway's royal court said that those killed at the island retreat included Crown Princess Mette-Marit's stepbrother Trond Berntsen, an off-duty police officer, who was working there as a security guard.

In an interview with Swedish tabloid Expressen, Breivik's father said he was ashamed and disgusted by his son's acts and wished he had committed suicide.

"I don't feel like his father," said former diplomat Jens David Breivik from his secluded home in southern France. "How could he just stand there and kill so many innocent people and just seem to think that what he did was OK? He should have taken his own life too. That's what he should have done."

Breivik said he first learned the news of his son's attacks from media websites. "I couldn't believe my eyes. It was totally paralysing and I couldn't really understand it."

"I will have to live with this shame for the rest of my life. People will always link me with him," he said.

Jens David Breivik said he had severed all contact with his son in 1995 when the latter was 16.

Police surrounded his house in the south of France. Initially they were searching the premises, but later said they were there to ensure public order.

Poland said today that Breivik bought some of the components for his bomb-making there, adding that the online purchases were legal. Pawel Bialek, the deputy head of the Internal Security Agency, said that the chemicals can be bought anywhere in Europe. They included a synthetic fertiliser.

Police later lowered the death toll in the youth camp massacre outside the Norwegian capital to 68, down from 86.

A spokesman said the higher, but incorrect, figure emerged as police and rescuers were focusing on helping survivors and securing the area.