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NSA leaks: US 'to charge Edward Snowden with spying' | NSA leaks: US 'to charge Edward Snowden with spying' |
(35 minutes later) | |
US prosecutors have filed a sealed criminal complaint against a fugitive former intelligence analyst who leaked details of a secret internet surveillance operations, US media say. | US prosecutors have filed a sealed criminal complaint against a fugitive former intelligence analyst who leaked details of a secret internet surveillance operations, US media say. |
The Washington Post says former National Security Agency (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden is being charged with espionage and theft. | The Washington Post says former National Security Agency (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden is being charged with espionage and theft. |
It says the US has asked Hong Kong to detain Mr Snowden if he is still there. | It says the US has asked Hong Kong to detain Mr Snowden if he is still there. |
The former NSA contractor fled to Hong Kong shortly before the scandal broke. | The former NSA contractor fled to Hong Kong shortly before the scandal broke. |
His leaks revealed that US agencies had systematically gathered vast amounts of phone and web data. | His leaks revealed that US agencies had systematically gathered vast amounts of phone and web data. |
The Washington Post, citing US government officials, said that a sealed criminal complaint had been lodged with a federal court in an eastern district of Virginia and a provisional arrest warrant had been issued. | The Washington Post, citing US government officials, said that a sealed criminal complaint had been lodged with a federal court in an eastern district of Virginia and a provisional arrest warrant had been issued. |
Mr Snowden, 30, was charged with espionage, theft and "conversion of government property", according to the report. | |
A US justice department official confirmed to the Associated Press news agency that a sealed criminal complaint had been filed against Mr Snowden but declined to specify the charges. | |
Mr Snowden has also alleged that US intelligence had been hacking into Chinese computer networks. | |
He said he had decided to speak out after observing "a continuing litany of lies" from senior officials to Congress. | |
The leaks have been a severe embarrassment for President Barack Obama's administration. | |
US officials have since launched a robust defence of the practice by US intelligence agencies of gathering huge amounts of telephone and internet data from private users around the world. | |
Earlier this week, the head of the NSA told Congress that surveillance programmes leaked by Mr Snowden had helped to thwart terror attacks. | |
Army General Keith Alexander told the House intelligence committee the surveillance operations were critical. | Army General Keith Alexander told the House intelligence committee the surveillance operations were critical. |