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NSA leaks: US 'to charge Edward Snowden with spying' NSA leaks: US charges Edward Snowden with spying
(about 1 hour 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. The US justice department has filed criminal charges against a fugitive ex-intelligence analyst who leaked details of a secret surveillance operation.
The Washington Post says former National Security Agency (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden is being charged with espionage and theft. The charges against ex-National Security Agency (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden include espionage and theft of government property.
It says the US has asked Hong Kong to detain Mr Snowden if he is still there. In May, Mr Snowden fled to Hong Kong after leaking details of a programme to monitor phone and internet data.
The former NSA contractor fled to Hong Kong shortly before the scandal broke. The US is also reported to be preparing an extradition request.
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 criminal complaint has been lodged with a federal court in an eastern district of Virginia and a provisional arrest warrant had been issued, court documents show.
Mr Snowden, 30, was charged with espionage, theft and "conversion of government property", according to the report. Mr Snowden, 30, was charged with "Theft of Government Property", "Unauthorized communication of National Defense Information Information" and "Willful Communication of Classified Communications Intelligence".
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. The BBC's Katy Watson in Washington says the move shows how seriously the administration is taking the issue.
Mr Snowden's leaks led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data under an NSA programme known as Prism.
Mr Snowden has also alleged that US intelligence had been hacking into Chinese computer networks.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.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.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. US officials have since launched a robust defence of the practice by US intelligence agencies of gathering 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. They say Prism cannot be used to intentionally target any Americans or anyone in the US, and that it is supervised by judges.
Army General Keith Alexander told the House intelligence committee the surveillance operations were critical. Earlier this week the head of the NSA, Gen Keith Alexander, told Congress that it had helped to thwart terror attacks.