Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo has died, Chinese government says

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Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo, China’s most prominent dissident, has died aged 61, officials say.

The human rights and democracy activist was being treated for terminal liver cancer in a hospital in north-eastern China.

He had been transferred from prison last month, where he was serving an 11-year term for “subversion”.

A university professor turned rights campaigner, Mr Liu was branded a criminal by the authorities.

The leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee which awards the prize says the Chinese government bears a heavy responsibility for his death.

Berit Reiss-Anderssen said:“We find it deeply disturbing that Liu Xiaobo was not transferred to a facility where he could receive adequate
medical treatment before he became terminally ill.”