Beijing wants Liu apology

China's state-run media yesterday pursued its campaign against the Nobel prize committee for awarding the peace prize to jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo, demanding an apology to the nation.

The Global Times - the tabloid sister publication of the People's Daily, the ruling Communists' mouthpiece - accused the Oslo committee of provoking a "serious ideological clash" between Beijing and the West.

Liu, 54, was named winner of this year's peace prize. He was sentenced to 11 years in jail in December for co-authoring Charter 08, a bold petition calling for political reform in China.

His win has incensed China, which has angrily warned that its ties with Norway will suffer, and has cancelled diplomatic meetings and a musicians' tour.

The US, EU and Japan have called for Liu's release.