China blocks news of Nobel peace prize winner

Roads around a prison in the Chinese city of Jin Zhou have been blocked by security.

The world's latest Nobel Peace Prize winner - imprisoned Chinese democracy campaigner Liu Xiaobo - is being held in the city, probably unaware that he has won the prestigious award.

Liu, who was sentenced last year to 11 years in a prison for subversion, won the Nobel Peace Prize, drawing furious condemnation from the government.

Chinese state media blacked out the news and Chinese government censors blocked Nobel Prize reports, which highlighted Liu's calls for peaceful political change, from Internet websites.

US President Barack Obama called on China on Friday (October 8) to release imprisoned Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo as soon as possible.

Obama, who received the prize last year, lauded Liu, saying he has "sacrificed his freedom for his beliefs."