China imposes travel ban on Nobel laureate's supporters

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.

Artist Ai Weiwei said he was stopped from getting on a flight from Beijing to Seoul last night.

Economist Mao Yushi said he was stopped from flying to Singapore on Wednesday morning.

Both are supporters of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, who is now serving an 11-year prison sentence for subversion.

Mr Liu’s wife has been confined to her home as China appears to be blocking Mr Liu’s family and supporters from travelling to Norway for the December 10 ceremony.