SHENYANG, China: The body of China’s late Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo was cremated Saturday after a private ceremony attended by his family, as Beijing faces international pressure to let the dissident’s wife leave the country. Officials released photos showing his wife, the poet Liu Xia, with her brother, and two of Liu Xiaobo’s brothers in front of the body, which was covered with white petals and surrounded by flowers at a funeral home. After his death, the United States and European Union called on Beijing to free Liu Xia, who has been under house arrest since 2010, and let her leave the country. “It’s best for her not to receive too much outside interference during this period after Liu Xiaobo has died,” he said. Zhang said authorities would release information about where Liu Xiaobo’s ashes will be taken “at an appropriate time.”Genser said Liu Xia has been held for seven years even though she has never been charged with any crime.

Source: Manila Times July 15, 2017 15:00 UTC