Normal Subgroups of Profinite Groups of Finite Cohomological Dimension

A profinite group G of finite cohomological dimension with (topologically)finitely generated closed normal subgroup N is studied. If Gis pro-p and N is either free as a pro-p group or a Poincarégroup of dimension 2 or analytic pro-p, it is shown that G/Nhas virtually finite cohomological dimension cd(G)–cd(N).Some other cases when G/N has virtually finite cohomologicaldimension are also considered. If G is profinite, the case of N projective or the profinitecompletion of the fundamental group of a compact surface isconsidered.