The 2010 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to imprisoned Chinese pro-democracy activist Liu Xiaobo.

Liu was jailed for 11 years last December for writing a 2008 manifesto with other Chinese activists calling for free speech and multi-party elections.

The announcement that Liu would be the laureate had been anticipated and bitterly criticised by Beijing.
"The government opposes (giving the Nobel Peace Prize to him) because they fear that it will draw more attention to Liu Xiaobo and to China's situation (on democracy and human rights)," his wife Liu Xia told AFP earlier this week.

The prize, including 10 million Swedish crowns (1.5 million euros), will be presented in Oslo on 10 December.