Powell was fastest through to the 100m final in Oslo

The Jamaican came home in 9.98 seconds - the ninth fastest time of 2006 - to edge out American Shawn Crawford.

However, Britons Jason Gardener, Mark Lewis-Francis and Marlon Devonish all failed to make it through the heats.

There was also disappointment for Welshman Tim Benjamin in his first 400m in nine months as he faded to seventh.

The 24-year-old has been struggling with a groin injury and it was his first competitive outing since last year's world championships.

Benjamin gave a spirited performance before hitting the wall with 50m left to race and he trailed home in 46.01. American Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner strolled to victory in 44.31.

"I'm a little race-rusty and didn't know what to expect, but hopefully after a few more races things will start to come together," he said.

Lewis-Francis, who has been warm weather training in Florida, was the best of the British sprinters as he came home fifth in 10.28 in his heat.

Jason Gardener, who is still carrying a back injury, set a season's best of 10.37 as he came home fourth in Powell's heat while Devonish was fifth in 10.29 in the final heat won by Tobago's Marc Burns in 10.11.

There were more encouraging signs from Rebecca Lyne, who came second in the 800m in two minutes, 00.67 seconds.

Lyne put in another encouraging display as she seeks to qualify for August's Europeans

Things did not go to plan for Olympic and world 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele in the 5,000m.

The Ethiopian was upstaged by Kenyan Isaac Songok, who broke away with 300m to go to win in 12 minutes 55.79 seconds.

Elsewhere, Sanya Richard ran beautifully as she set a world-leading time of 49.82 to win the women's 400m.

Olympic and world heptathlon champion Carolina Kluft claimed the women's long jump with a leap of 6.67m on her Golden League debut.

She said: "My legs felt very slow and my winning jump was a jump of sheer will."

Bahamas veteran Debbie Ferguson won the women's 100m in 11.22 while Belgium's Kim Gevaert claimed the 200m in a season's best of 22.58.

Britain's Emma Ania came a creditable fourth with a personal best time of 23.38, while Abi Oyepitan trailed in eighth.

In the men's javelin, Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway won with a national record of 91.59m.

Any athlete who wins one of the designated 11 events at each of the six meetings will collect a $1m prize.

If two or more athletes win each of their events they will split the $1m.

This season a new rule has also been introduced where athletes who win five races will share a purse of $500,000.