Charge over Chinese PM shoe demo

The Chinese prime minister was giving a speech about the global economy

A 27-year-old man has been charged after a shoe was thrown at Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao during a visit to Cambridge University.

Police said the man, who has not been named, would appear before magistrates in Cambridge on 10 February accused of committing a public order offence.

The shoe was thrown at Mr Wen and he was called a "dictator" as he gave a speech on the global economy on Monday.

The premier, on a three-day UK visit, described the incident as "despicable".

Mr Wen was giving his speech having earlier signed a series of trade agreements with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Witnesses said the shoe landed about a metre away from Mr Wen.

The protest was similar to an event in December when US President George W Bush was forced to duck to avoid shoes thrown at him by an Iraqi journalist in Baghdad.

As Mr Wen arrived at the university, he was met by both pro-China supporters and people demonstrating against China's human rights record in its own country and in Tibet.

On Sunday, five people were arrested during a Free Tibet demonstration in London after trying to approach Mr Wen as he arrived at the Chinese Embassy.