US and EU call for release of well-known Chinese dissident

He was convicted for inciting the subversion of state power after co-authoring Charter 08, a call for greater political freedoms. Although the vaguely-worded offence carries a maximum term of up to 15 years, the writer's sentence was one of the longest handed out in recent years on the charge.

But a reduction would have been remarkable in such a high-profile political case and his wife said she had expected the decision. She added that Liu shouted out his innocence after hearing the court's statement.

Diplomats were not allowed into the brief hearing but gathered outside the Beijing court as US and EU spokesmen criticised the decision.

The US ambassador, Jon Huntsman, said that Liu should not have been sentenced in the first place and should be released immediately, in a statement read by an American diplomat.

"Persecution of individuals for the peaceful expression of political views is inconsistent with internationally recognised norms of human rights," he added.

Simon Sharpe, the spokesman for the EU delegation in China, said: "The European Union believes that the verdict against Liu Xiaobo for his role as author of Charter 08 and for publishing articles concerning human rights on the internet is entirely incompatible with his right to freedom of expression.

"The EU calls on the Chinese government unconditionally to release Mr Liu and to end the harassment and detention of other signatories of Charter 08."