BEIJING, March 29 (AFP) - A court in Beijing has rejected an appeal by dissident Liu Xiaobo against a three year sentence to a re-education by labour camp, his wife said Saturday.

"On Friday I was called to the Xuanwu district court (in Beijing) where I was given a document rejecting the appeal," Liu Xia said by telephone. Liu Xiaobo, arrested for writing a letter calling for political talks with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, was sentenced October 10.

He launched his appeal immediately after his sentencing with a court in Dalian, northeast China, where he is serving his sentence.

Liu, 40, has already served 19 months in prison for his involvement in the 1989 pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square.