Oslo, Norway: The Nobel committee said Thursday the Chinese government was responsible for the 2010 peace prize winner Liu Xiaobo’s ‘premature’ death while still in custody following a battle with cancer.

‘We find it deeply disturbing that Liu Xiaobo was not transferred to a facility where he could receive adequate medical treatment before he became terminally ill,’ it said in a statement.

‘The Chinese government bears a heavy responsibility for his premature death.’