Authorities in China have arrested supporters of the Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in Beijing and Shanghai. The awarding of the prize to prominent dissident Liu prompted celebrations by Chinese human rights activists. In Beijing, 14 supporters of Liu have been held and in Shanghai more people have been arrested. The Chinese government has slammed the Nobel award, describing Liu as a criminal. He is currently serving a 11-year jail term for co-authoring a document calling for widespread democratic reforms in China. US President Barack Obama has asked China to release the jailed courageous Human Rights Activists Liu. Obama said by granting the prize to Liu, the Nobel Committee has chosen someone who has been a courageous spokesman for the advance of universal values -democracy, human rights and the rule of law – through non – violent means.