OSLO Passenger trains stopped for an extra two minutes at stations across Norway Thursday to protest Israels offensive in the Gaza Strip, the union that organised the demonstration said.

On the basis of the humanitarian situation that has resulted from Israels invasion of Gaza, the board of NLF (Norways Locomotive Association) has decided to make a political show of support for the Palestinian people, the union said in a statement.

It is our duty as union members to react to the slaughter of civilians that we are witnessing, it said, adding that all passenger trains at a station at 1500 GMT had been asked to wait an extra two minutes before continuing their routes.

Trains that were not in station at that time had made their two-minute stop as soon as they got to the nearest station.

The train personnel had also been asked to inform passengers the delay was an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people ... We demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the union said.

More than 760 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive on December 27.