Norway plans to hand over kids to uncle

Norwegian social workers, embroiled in an international row after removing two Indian children from their parents, said Friday they had decided to place the children with their uncle in India.

Norwegian social workers, embroiled in an international row after removing two Indian children from their parents, said Friday they had decided to place the children with their uncle in India.

A court is to make a final ruling on the decision on April 17.

"If the court decides that the children should be removed from the care of the public authorities, the agreement can be implemented as soon as practicable," Gunnar Toresen, head of the Child Welfare Service in Stavanger, said.

"The uncle will then take over care of the children and take them to India," he added.

Child services said they reversed an earlier decision against handing over the children to their uncle after further talks with him.

"The uncle was... concerned that he will not have sufficient support to take care of the children on his return to India. The situation is now different," Toresen said.