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The government and the opposition have also said they consider the decision by the council in Drammen to be in violation of Norwegian laws.

Up to a third of the population of Drammen are immigrant or have an immigrant background.

Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who heads a center-left government, condemned Tuesday’s decision by Drammen and said that Norway’s 357 municipalities cannot decide for themselves which refugees they accept — only how many they can take in.

The local county governor’s office has asked the municipality’s head to explain Drammen’s statement by Feb. 28 after which a final decision will be made.

On the Drammen council’s Facebook page, some of the comments called the decision racist.