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Snowden leaks: US taking all necessary steps - FBI Mueller Snowden leaks: US taking all necessary steps - FBI Mueller
(about 2 hours later)
The head of the FBI says the US is taking "all necessary steps" to hold Edward Snowden responsible for exposing secret surveillance programmes.The head of the FBI says the US is taking "all necessary steps" to hold Edward Snowden responsible for exposing secret surveillance programmes.
Robert Mueller confirmed to the House Judiciary Committee that a criminal investigation had been launched.Robert Mueller confirmed to the House Judiciary Committee that a criminal investigation had been launched.
Mr Snowden, 29, has admitted leaking information about National Security Agency (NSA) programmes that seize data from US internet and telephone firms.Mr Snowden, 29, has admitted leaking information about National Security Agency (NSA) programmes that seize data from US internet and telephone firms.
NSA head Keith Alexander is due to give senators a classified briefing later.NSA head Keith Alexander is due to give senators a classified briefing later.
In a Senate Intelligence Committee briefing to which all senators were invited, he was expected to describe dozens of plots he says prevented "dozens of terrorist events" both in the US and overseas. In a Senate Intelligence Committee briefing to which all senators were invited, he was expected to describe how the surveillance helped foil "dozens of terrorist events" both in the US and overseas.
On Wednesday, Gen Alexander defended the exposed programmes to the Senate Intelligence Committee, saying the US was less safe as a result of Mr Snowden's actions.On Wednesday, Gen Alexander defended the exposed programmes to the Senate Intelligence Committee, saying the US was less safe as a result of Mr Snowden's actions.
Mr Snowden, who has pledged to fight any attempt to extradite him to the US, fled his home in Hawaii for Hong Kong shortly before reports of the top secret programmes were published by the Guardian and Washington Post newspapers last week.Mr Snowden, who has pledged to fight any attempt to extradite him to the US, fled his home in Hawaii for Hong Kong shortly before reports of the top secret programmes were published by the Guardian and Washington Post newspapers last week.
'Americans will die''Americans will die'
China says it has "no information to offer" on the leaker's whereabouts.China says it has "no information to offer" on the leaker's whereabouts.
The 29-year-old former CIA and NSA contract worker has admitted giving the newspapers information about NSA programmes that seize vast quantities of data from US internet and telephone companies.The 29-year-old former CIA and NSA contract worker has admitted giving the newspapers information about NSA programmes that seize vast quantities of data from US internet and telephone companies.
US officials have confirmed the programmes exist, with President Barack Obama saying they were closely overseen by Congress and the courts.US officials have confirmed the programmes exist, with President Barack Obama saying they were closely overseen by Congress and the courts.
On Wednesday, Gen Alexander said intelligence officials were "trying to be transparent" about the programmes.On Wednesday, Gen Alexander said intelligence officials were "trying to be transparent" about the programmes.
But some details would remain classified "because if we tell the terrorists every way that we're going to track them, they will get through and Americans will die", he added.But some details would remain classified "because if we tell the terrorists every way that we're going to track them, they will get through and Americans will die", he added.
In the course of Wednesday's hearing, committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein revealed that phone records were only accessed by the NSA in cases where there was reason to suspect an individual was connected with al-Qaeda or Iran.In the course of Wednesday's hearing, committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein revealed that phone records were only accessed by the NSA in cases where there was reason to suspect an individual was connected with al-Qaeda or Iran.
She also said the vast majority of records were never accessed and were deleted after five years.She also said the vast majority of records were never accessed and were deleted after five years.
In an interview at an undisclosed Hong Kong location published in the South China Morning Post on Wednesday, Mr Snowden said he believed there had been more than 61,000 NSA global hacking operations which targeted powerful "network backbones".In an interview at an undisclosed Hong Kong location published in the South China Morning Post on Wednesday, Mr Snowden said he believed there had been more than 61,000 NSA global hacking operations which targeted powerful "network backbones".
He said one of those institutions hacked was the Chinese University of Hong Kong, home to the Hong Kong Internet Exchange, which handles nearly all the Chinese territory's domestic web traffic.He said one of those institutions hacked was the Chinese University of Hong Kong, home to the Hong Kong Internet Exchange, which handles nearly all the Chinese territory's domestic web traffic.
Chinese officials have acknowledged they have seen a number of cyber-attacks from the US.Chinese officials have acknowledged they have seen a number of cyber-attacks from the US.
In the newspaper interview, Mr Snowden vowed to fight extradition to the US.In the newspaper interview, Mr Snowden vowed to fight extradition to the US.
"All I can do is rely on my training and hope that world governments will refuse to be bullied by the United States into persecuting people seeking political refuge," the paper quoted Mr Snowden as saying."All I can do is rely on my training and hope that world governments will refuse to be bullied by the United States into persecuting people seeking political refuge," the paper quoted Mr Snowden as saying.
"Things are very difficult for me in all terms, but speaking truth to power is never without risk," he said."Things are very difficult for me in all terms, but speaking truth to power is never without risk," he said.
"It has been difficult, but I have been glad to see the global public speak out against these sorts of systemic violations of privacy.""It has been difficult, but I have been glad to see the global public speak out against these sorts of systemic violations of privacy."
US officials have yet to comment on the China-related allegations.US officials have yet to comment on the China-related allegations.
But in an online post, Chinese Air Force Colonel Dai Xu said: "I have always said, the United States' accusations about Chinese hacking attacks have always been a case of a thief crying for another thief to be caught."But in an online post, Chinese Air Force Colonel Dai Xu said: "I have always said, the United States' accusations about Chinese hacking attacks have always been a case of a thief crying for another thief to be caught."
Intelligence officials have insisted agents do not listen in on Americans' telephone conversations. And they maintain the internet communications surveillance programme, reportedly codenamed Prism, targeted only non-Americans located outside the US.Intelligence officials have insisted agents do not listen in on Americans' telephone conversations. And they maintain the internet communications surveillance programme, reportedly codenamed Prism, targeted only non-Americans located outside the US.
But some congressmen say they want to know how a 29-year-old civilian contractor was able to gain access to such large quantities of sensitive information.But some congressmen say they want to know how a 29-year-old civilian contractor was able to gain access to such large quantities of sensitive information.