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Kerry warns of Snowden consequences for Russia and China Kerry warns of Snowden consequences for Russia and China
(about 1 hour later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry has said it would be "disappointing" if Russia and China had helped US fugitive Edward Snowden evade US attempts to extradite him from Hong Kong.US Secretary of State John Kerry has said it would be "disappointing" if Russia and China had helped US fugitive Edward Snowden evade US attempts to extradite him from Hong Kong.
Speaking during a visit to India, Mr Kerry said there would inevitably be "consequences" to such a move.Speaking during a visit to India, Mr Kerry said there would inevitably be "consequences" to such a move.
Mr Snowden flew out of Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday. Mr Snowden flew from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday.
He was expected to have flown on to Cuba, but Ecuador's foreign minister has since implied he remains in Russia. A seat was booked in his name on a flight to Cuba on Monday morning, but he is not thought to have boarded.
Mr Snowden is wanted by the US for revealing to the media details of a secret government surveillance programme, which he obtained while working as an IT contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA). He has applied to Ecuador for political asylum, but the country's foreign minister has implied he is still in Russia.
'At risk of persecution' Mr Snowden, 30, is wanted by the US for revealing to the media details of a secret government surveillance programme, which he obtained while working as an IT contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA).
Ecuador's foreign minister Ricardo Patino said Ecuador had maintained "respectful and diplomatic contacts" with the Russian government. He is charged with theft of government property, unauthorised communication of national defence information and wilful communication of classified communications intelligence.
He said Moscow could "make the decision it feels is most convenient in accordance with its laws and politics and in accordance with the international laws and norms that could be applied to this case". Speaking during a visit to Delhi in India, Mr Kerry told reporters it would "be obviously disappointing if he was wilfully allowed to board an airplane".
However, when asked whether he knew of Mr Snowden's current location he declined to answer.
Mr Patino confirmed that Ecuador was processing an asylum request from Mr Snowden, and read out the letter the fugitive had sent to President Rafael Correa in which he said he was "at risk of being persecuted by the US and its agents".
Defending the decision to consider Mr Snowden's request, Mr Patino said his country put human rights "above any other interest that may be discussed or any other pressure it may be subjected to" and that he would not face a fair trial at home.
He also said the US had been in contact, through its ambassador, with the government in Quito, but gave no further details.
"We will consider the position of the US government and we will take a decision in due course in line with the [Ecuadorean]constitution, the laws, international politics and sovereignty."
The US and Ecuador have a joint extradition treaty, but it is not applicable to "crimes or offences of a political character".
Meanwhile, Russia's Interfax state news agency quoted an informed source as saying Moscow was considering a US extradition request.
But the source said Mr Snowden had not crossed the Russian border so could not be detained.
'Effect and impact'
Mr Snowden, 30, has been charged with theft of government property, unauthorised communication of national defence information and wilful communication of classified communications intelligence.
He was in hiding in Hong Kong when the details first emerged, but the authorities there said he left voluntarily on Sunday, saying US extradition papers were incomplete so there was no legal reason to prevent his departure.
But Albert Ho, his lawyer in Hong Kong, told the BBC that a government official urged Mr Snowden to go over the weekend. Mr Ho said he believed the official was acting on the orders of the Beijing government.
Speaking in Delhi, during a visit to India, Mr Kerry told reporters it would "be obviously disappointing if he was wilfully allowed to board an airplane".
"As a result there would be without any question some effect and impact on the relationship and consequences.""As a result there would be without any question some effect and impact on the relationship and consequences."
The US has revoked his passport and wants Russia to hand him over before he leaves. Mr Snowden is believed to have spent the night in an airside hotel at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. Mr Snowden is believed to have spent the night in an airside hotel at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. The US has revoked his passport and wants Russia to hand him over.
Mr Kerry urged Moscow to "live by the standards of the law because that's in the interests of everybody".Mr Kerry urged Moscow to "live by the standards of the law because that's in the interests of everybody".
"In the last two years we have transferred seven prisoners to Russia that they wanted so I think reciprocity and the enforcement of the law is pretty important," he said."In the last two years we have transferred seven prisoners to Russia that they wanted so I think reciprocity and the enforcement of the law is pretty important," he said.
Reports had suggested Mr Snowden would fly to the Cuban capital, Havana, on Monday morning, before taking an onward to flight, possibly to Ecuador. Mr Snowden was in hiding in Hong Kong when his leaks first emerged. The authorities there said he left voluntarily on Sunday, and that US extradition papers were incomplete so there was no legal reason to prevent his departure.
The first plane scheduled to fly to Havana left Sheremetyevo at 14:05 Moscow time (10:05 GMT), but journalists on board said he had not been seen. But Albert Ho, his lawyer in Hong Kong, told the BBC that a government official urged Mr Snowden to go over the weekend. Mr Ho said he believed the official was acting on the orders of the Beijing government.
'Healthy and safe' 'At risk of persecution'
Ecuador is already giving political asylum to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who has been sheltering in its London embassy for the past year. Speaking during a visit to Vietnam on Monday, Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino confirmed that his country was processing an asylum request from Mr Snowden.
Wikileaks is now supporting Mr Snowden and said in a statement on Sunday that he was "bound for the Republic of Ecuador via a safe route for the purposes of asylum, and is being escorted by diplomats and legal advisers from Wikileaks". He read out a letter the fugitive had sent to Ecuador in which he said he was "at risk of being persecuted by the US and its agents".
On Monday Mr Assange, who is wanted for questioning in Sweden over allegations of sexual assault, said on Monday that Mr Snowden was "healthy and safe", but would not say where he was nor where he was going. Mr Patino said Quito was in contact with Moscow who could "make the decision it feels is most convenient in accordance with its laws and politics and in accordance with the international laws and norms that could be applied to this case".
Mr Snowden left his home in Hawaii after leaking details of his work at the NSA and US surveillance tactics to the UK's Guardian newspaper and the Washington Post. When asked whether he knew of Mr Snowden's current location he declined to answer.
His leaks have led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data under an NSA programme known as Prism. "We will consider the position of the US government and we will take a decision in due course," he said, saying Ecuador put the protection of human rights "above any other interest".
The US and Ecuador have a joint extradition treaty, but it is not applicable to "crimes or offences of a political character".
Meanwhile, Russia's Interfax state news agency quoted an informed source as saying Moscow was considering a US extradition request, but that Mr Snowden had not officially crossed the Russian border so could not be detained.
Mr Snowden is being supported by the whistleblowing website Wikileaks, which said on Sunday that he was heading to Ecuador accompanied by some of its diplomats and legal advisers.
Ecuador is already giving political asylum - in its London embassy - to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is wanted for questioning in Sweden over allegations of sexual assault - which he denies.
On Monday, he said Mr Snowden was "healthy and safe", and travelling to Ecuador "via a safe path through Russia and other states".
He said Mr Snowden had left Hong Kong on a refugee document of passage issued by Ecuador, and was not carrying any NSA secrets with him.
Mr Snowden's leaks have led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data under an NSA programme known as Prism.
He has previously said had decided to speak out after observing "a continuing litany of lies" from senior officials to Congress.He has previously said had decided to speak out after observing "a continuing litany of lies" from senior officials to Congress.
Each of the charges he faces carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.Each of the charges he faces carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.
Correspondents say the Obama administration is desperate to get its hands on him before he reveals any more secrets.Correspondents say the Obama administration is desperate to get its hands on him before he reveals any more secrets.
US officials have defended the practice of gathering telephone and internet data from private users around the world.US officials have defended the practice of gathering telephone and internet data from private users around the world.
They say Prism cannot be used to intentionally target any Americans or anyone in the US, and that it is supervised by judges.They say Prism cannot be used to intentionally target any Americans or anyone in the US, and that it is supervised by judges.