China and 18 other countries will boycott this week's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in protest at the award going to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.

China's crackdown before next week’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremony has widened to block a well-known artist and an economist who is more than 80 years old from travelling overseas.

SEVERAL Western diplomats said China is pressuring European governments to shun the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony next month for imprisoned democracy activist Liu Xiaobo and not to make any statements in support of him.

Several Western diplomats said China is pressuring European governments to shun the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony next month for imprisoned democracy activist Liu Xiaobo and not to make any statements in support of him.