BEIJING (Reuters) - One of China's best known dissidents, Liu
Xiaobo, has been formally arrested on suspicion of inciting subversion,
following his detention late last year for promoting a petition calling
for an end to one-party rule.
The move brings one of the most prominent critics of the ruling
Communist Party a step closer to trial, and it will be a blow to
supporters and human rights groups who had hoped he would be released
after China passed the politically sensitive 20th anniversary of the
1989 pro-democracy Tiananmen protests.
State news agency Xinhua said on Wednesday prosecutors approved Liu's
arrest by Beijing police on Tuesday for "alleged agitation activities
aimed at subversion of government and overthrowing of the socialist
system."]
Liu has been a thorn in the government's side since 1989 when he
joined a hunger strike in support of student protesters days before the
army crushed the pro-democracy movement centered on Tiananmen Square on
June 4 that year.
Late last year, he was among 303 dissidents and rights activists who
launched "Charter 08," a petition calling for the dismantling of
one-party rule and creation of multi-party democracy. About 9,000
people have signed the petition since.
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