LONDON, October 8, 2010 (AFP) - Amnesty International called for Chinese authorities to release all prisoners of conscience detained in the country to be freed after jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

The London-based human rights group said Liu was a "worthy winner" and expressed hope that the award "will keep the spotlight on the struggle for fundamental freedoms and concrete protection of human rights that Liu Xiaobo and many other activists in China are dedicated to".

But Catherine Baber, Amnesty's deputy Asia-Pacific director, said: "This award can only make a real difference if it prompts more international pressure on China to release Liu, along with the numerous other prisoners of conscience languishing in Chinese jails for exercising their right to freedom of expression."

Liu, 54, is in prison for helping to organise and disseminate a document called Charter 08, which called for sweeping political reforms in China, including the freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion.