Jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo has been named the winner of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. Making the announcement in Oslo today, the head of the Norwegian Nobel committee said Liu was "the foremost symbol" of the human rights struggle in China. Several countries including the US, France and Germany, called for his immediate release. China said the award could damage ties with Norway, and summoned the country's ambassador in Beijing in protest. Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland admitted he knew the choice would be controversial. He told local television before the announcement: "You'll understand when you hear the name." Jagland, reading the citation, said China's new status in the world "must entail increased responsibility". "China is in breach of several international agreements to which it is a signatory, as well as of its own provisions concerning political rights." In the weeks leading up to this announcement, Beijing was very strong in its statements. It said that Liu Xiaobo was not a suitable candidate. Beijing regards him as a criminal and said the award could damage relations between China and Norway. Liu, 54, was a key leader in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. Last year he received an 11 year sentence for "inciting subversion" after drafting Charter 08, which called for multi-party democracy and respect for human rights in China. The Nobel Foundation citation read: "Liu has consistently maintained that the sentence violates both China's own constitution and fundamental human rights." It praised Liu for his "long and non-violent struggle" and highlighted its belief in a "close connection between human rights and peace".
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