Britain's interior minister ordered officials Friday to grant Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei a six-month visa, reversing a decision to restrict him to a short trip that had prompted condemnation from rights groups.

Home Secretary Theresa May "has reviewed the case and has now instructed Home Office officials to issue a full six-month visa", a spokeswoman for the department said, adding that a letter had been sent to the artist "apologising for the inconvenience caused".