The European Union (EU) Friday said it was 'deeply concerned' at the 11-year prison sentence imposed on Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo for seeking greater democracy.

A statement released by the EU presidency in Stockholm called the sentence 'excessive' and said it raised concern about respect for human rights and the right to a fair trial in China.

A Beijing court Friday sentenced Liu, 53, after finding him guilty of 'inciting subversion of state power'.

Human rights groups said the sentence was the longest a Chinese court has meted out for such a charge.