| NEWS ARCHIVES |
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| China's leading dissident goes on trial |
| 23 Dec 2009 |
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Leading Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo has gone on trial on subversion charges.
The 53-year-old Liu had previously been jailed over the 1989 Tiananmen pro-democracy protests.
He is now charged with "inciting subversion of state power" after he co-authored a bold call for political reform.
Western diplomats were denied access to the half-day trial in a Beijing court after Washington and Brussels last week called for Liu's release.
Key dissidents were warned not to attend the proceedings.
One of the dissident's lawyers said the Beijing court is expected to deliver its verdict on Friday, Christmas Day.
If convicted, Liu faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
The United States, the European Union and rights groups have described the case as politically motivated.
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