Wife Of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Now A Hostage

The wife of the jailed Nobel peace prize laureate Liu Xiaobo said she and her family are "hostages", according to reports. The comment is thought to be her first contact with the outside world for four months.

Supporters have been unable to reach Liu Xia since shortly after October's announcement that her husband had won the award. It was initially thought she was under house arrest at the couple's home in Beijing, but it is now believed she may be being held at her parents' house. The Washington Post said it received a transcript of an online chat Liu Xia had with a friend via an intermediary. According to the transcript:

"I don't know how I managed to get online. Don't go online. Otherwise my whole family is in danger, Liu Xia told her friend.

Asked whether she was at home, she said: "Yes. Can't go out. My whole family are hostages."

She signed off by saying: "So miserable. I'm crying. Nobody can help me."

Liu Xiaobo is serving an 11-year sentence for co-authoring Charter 08, a call for democratic reforms. The author was represented by an empty chair at the Nobel ceremony last year because all of his immediate family members were prevented from leaving China. The Chinese authorities placed his wife under house arrest when he won. Her communications were cut off a few days later, although she has said she was able to visit him once in prison since the announcement.