BEIJING, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- A Chinese high court Thursday upheld the 11-year sentence of prominent dissident Liu Xiaobo, 53, who had been convicted of subversion.
The court in Beijing rejected Liu's appeal of his sentence for "agitation aimed at subversion of the government," Xinhua news agency reported.
The university professor, who has been active since the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protest, was sentenced Dec. 25 for his role in a separate subversion, although he had pleaded innocent.
The high court said the final verdict was made after a review of his case and hearing the opinions of his defense lawyers, Xinhua said.
The report said Liu's family and some members of the public were present, although at his earlier hearing neither his wife nor foreign diplomats were allowed.
Liu was convicted for co-authoring the "Charter 08" manifesto urging sweeping political reforms in the country. His sentencing was seen as another example of the Communist government's intolerance of anyone challenging its authority.
The Times of London reported Liu and his lawyers were not given a chance to speak in the high court.
"I'm innocent" Liu shouted as he was led away, the report said.
"I had prepared myself. I can't say I was disappointed because I never had any hope," his wife was quoted as saying.
American and European Union diplomats standing outside the court condemned the high court ruling, the Times said.
U.S. Embassy official Aubrey Carlson, reading a statement of Ambassador Jon Huntsman, said: "We believe he should not have been sentenced in the first place and he should be released immediately." The Ambassador urged China to "respect the right of all citizens to peacefully express their political views."
