Nobel Prize awarded to absent Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded, despite the absence of the winner Liu Xiaobo.

Nobel chairman Thorbjorn Jagland paid tribute to Liu Xiaobo, who is in prison in China - a fact he says, "shows that the award was necessary and appropriate".

Of about 50 countries invited to the Nobel ceremony, almost a third are staying away, including Russia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, many as a result of Chinese pressure.

For more information visit http://www.nobelprize.org

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11966449