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U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to attend Nobel Prize ceremony

By the CNN Wire Staff
Nancy Pelosi's office says the U.S. House speaker will be in Norway on Friday.
Nancy Pelosi's office says the U.S. House speaker will be in Norway on Friday.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • A House resolution this week calls for the release from prison of honoree Liu Xiaobo
  • Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls the resolution a 'clear message' from the U.S. government
  • China refuses to let Liu attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in Norway
RELATED TOPICS
  • Nancy Pelosi
  • Liu Xiaobo
  • China
  • Nobel Peace Prize
  • Norway

Editor's note: Jonathan Mann profiles Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in a special show on CNN International and on CNN.com. "Prize for Peace: Nobel 2010": Friday 1700 CET, 2000 Abu Dhabi; Sat: 0000 HK

Washington (CNN) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will attend the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony Friday in Oslo, Norway, as part of the official delegation on behalf of winner Liu Xiaobo of China, her office announced.

Liu, a professor of literature, is serving an 11-year sentence in a Chinese prison for what the government called "inciting subversion of state power."

He was not allowed to travel to Norway to accept the prize, nor was his wife, Liu Xia.

The House passed a resolution Wednesday that congratulated Liu and called for his immediate release, according to a statement by Pelosi's office.

"In passing the House resolution yesterday, the American government sent a clear message of support for individuals who stand for nonviolence, justice, democratic freedoms and the defense of fundamental human rights," Pelosi said in the statement.

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