Temple Laiti blog

Nobel panel may not hand out Liu's peace prize

OSLO, Norway – The Nobel Peace Prize committee says the award may not be handed out this year because no one from prize winner Liu Xiaobo's family is likely to attend the ceremony.

The prestigious award can only be collected by the laureate or close family members.

Liu, a Chinese dissident, is imprisoned, and his wife is in house arrest.

Norwegian Nobel Committee secretary Geir Lundestad says no other relatives have announced they're coming to Oslo for the Dec. 10 ceremony.

He told AP on Thursday that barring last-minute changes, it's likely the Nobel diploma and medal won't be handed out at the ceremony.

China has pressured countries not to send representatives to the ceremony.

Lundestad said ambassadors from Russia, Cuba and Kazakhstan have declined invitations.