Japan: Freeing Chinese Nobel winner 'desirable'

Japan's prime minister says it would be "desirable" for China to free imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, but he hasn't gone as far as specifically calling for the Xiaobo's release.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan told fellow members of parliament on Thursday: "Basic human rights and freedom must be protected. From that standpoint, my view is that the release is desirable."

The imprisoned Liu won the Nobel last week for more than two decades of advocating human rights and peaceful democratic change. China has denounced Liu's prize.

(AP)