The US and the European Union issued strong rebukes of China's political restrictions yesterday after a court in Beijing upheld the 11-year prison sentence for high-profile dissident Liu Xiaobo.

Mr Liu was first sentenced on Christmas day on charges of inciting subversion of state power as a result of his role in organising the pro-democracy petition Charter 08 and publishing articles critical of China's one-party rule. His lawyer confirmed that an appeal had been rejected.

The Chinese government rejected criticisms of the verdict and warned against interference in its domestic affairs. But the 11-year prison sentence, one of the longest handed down in recent years, has galvanised international criticism of China's human rights record and has prompted a campaign to nominate Mr Liu for a Nobel Peace Prize.