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Liu Xiaobo: China's most prominent dissident dies Liu Xiaobo: China's most prominent dissident dies
(35 minutes later)
Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, who was China's most prominent human rights and democracy advocate, has died aged 61, officials say.Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, who was China's most prominent human rights and democracy advocate, has died aged 61, officials say.
The activist was being treated for terminal liver cancer in a hospital in north-eastern China.The 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".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.A university professor turned rights campaigner, Mr Liu was branded a criminal by the authorities.
He was repeatedly jailed throughout his life, and had also been subject to heavy restrictions when he was free, while his wife, Liu Xia, was placed under house arrest.He was repeatedly jailed throughout his life, and had also been subject to heavy restrictions when he was free, while his wife, Liu Xia, was placed under house arrest.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Mr Liu's case became mired in international controversy.In the weeks leading up to his death, Mr Liu's case became mired in international controversy.
Several Western countries urged China to allow Mr Liu to leave the country to seek palliative care elsewhere. A German and an American doctor who recently visited and examined him said he could travel abroad.Several Western countries urged China to allow Mr Liu to leave the country to seek palliative care elsewhere. A German and an American doctor who recently visited and examined him said he could travel abroad.
But Chinese medical experts insisted that he was too ill to travel.But Chinese medical experts insisted that he was too ill to travel.
Mr Liu has been a pro-democracy figurehead for activists outside mainland China, although many do not know him at home where authorities have rigorously censored news about him.
The activist played a significant role in the Tiananmen protests of June 1989 which ended in bloodshed when they were quashed by troops.
Analysis: The price of political defiance
By Carrie Gracie, China editor
Chinese authorities refused Liu Xiaobo's dying request to be allowed to travel abroad for treatment. Instead he died as he had lived, under the close watch of the one party state.
The life and death of this Nobel laureate underline the cost of political defiance in China. Liu Xiaobo had enjoyed a comfortable early career as a university professor, but the massacre which followed the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests was the fork in his path.
Where many gave up demanding democracy, he stood firm and was jailed repeatedly. When he won the Nobel peace prize in 2010 he was serving an 11-year prison sentence for subversion. And a furious Beijing placed his wife under house arrest too.
Only in a hospital ward in the last days of his life have this suffering couple been reunited. Now parted again by Liu Xiaobo's death.
He and other activists negotiated the safe exit of several hundred demonstrators, and has been credited with saving the protesters' lives.
He was subsequently placed in a detention centre and released in 1991.
Mr Liu's campaign for the freeing of those detained during Tiananmen landed him in a labour camp in north-eastern China for three years but he was permitted to marry poet Liu Xia there in 1996.