Liu Xiaobo: China’s most prominent dissident dies

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.

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.

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.

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.