Washington (AsiaNews / Agencies) - President Barack Obama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, has joined those who are asking China for the immediate release of Liu Xiaobo. "We urge the Chinese government to release Liu as soon as possible," the U.S. president said in a statement released hours after the Nobel was awarded to Chinese dissident.

"Over the past 30 years - read the statement - China has made enormous progress in economic reform and improving the standard of living of its people, but this award reminds us that political reform has not kept pace, and that the fundamental human rights of every man, woman and child must be respected. "

Obama called Liu "an eloquent and courageous spokesman for the advance of universal values through peaceful and nonviolent means”.

The award to Liu Xiaobo has sparked protests from China. The official Chinese media yesterday and today strongly condemned the choice of the dissident as recipient of the Nobel Prize. The authorities have banned all foreign broadcasts and according to the spokesman of an association for human rights, who remain anonymous, the police have already arrested some demonstrators, as they celebrated Liu.

The international community, so far seems to resist pressure from Beijing, which has already threatened Norway with economic embargoes, and is clamoring for the release of the dissident sentenced to 11 years in prison for a crime of opinion.

France and Germany have officially put forward a request . "The German government - said the government spokesman in Berlin, Steffen Seibert - hopes that Liu Xiaobo will soon be released in order to receive the prize in person," while French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement that " France, like the European Union has expressed its concern since his arrest and has repeatedly asked for his release.

In his congratulatory message, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, said that "it is a strong message of support to all those around the world who, often with great personal sacrifice, are fighting for freedom and human rights." "These values are the foundation of the European Union and the Nobel Prize Committee's decision highlights their importance all over the world."