OSLO, Norway – Pro-democracy demonstrators are gathering in Norway's capital a day before the Nobel committee celebrates this year's Peace Prize winner, the jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
It will be the first time since 1936 that the prize won't be handed out, because the Chinese government has prevented Liu and his family from traveling to Oslo to collect the award.
China was infuriated when the prestigious $1.5 million prize was awarded to Liu and has pressured foreign diplomats to cancel their attendance at Friday's ceremony.
Nobel Peace Prize Committee secretary Geir Lundestad says Liu will be represented "by an empty chair — the strongest argument for this year's prize."
