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Kerry warns of Snowden consequences for Russia and China Edward Snowden: US warns 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 from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday.Mr Snowden flew from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday.
A seat was booked in his name on a flight to Cuba on Monday morning, but he is not thought to have boarded.A seat was booked in his name on a flight to Cuba on Monday morning, but he is not thought to have boarded.
He has applied to Ecuador for political asylum, but the country's foreign minister has implied he is still in Russia.He has applied to Ecuador for political asylum, but the country's foreign minister has implied he is still in Russia.
And speaking at a news briefing later on Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said: "It is our understanding that he (Snowden) is still in Russia."
He added that senior US officials were briefing President Barack Obama regularly about all the developments.
'Use all options'
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).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).
He is charged with theft of government property, unauthorised communication of national defence information and wilful communication of classified communications intelligence.He is charged with theft of government property, unauthorised communication of national defence information and wilful communication of classified communications intelligence.
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".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".
"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."
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 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.
Mr Carney later reiterated this position, by saying that China's decision not to "provisionally arrest" Ms Snowden in Hong Kong "unquestionably has a negative impact on the US-China relationship".
Mr Carney also called on Russia to use all options to expel the former US spy agency contractor.
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.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.
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.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.
'At risk of persecution''At risk of persecution'
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. During a visit to Vietnam on earlier Monday, Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino confirmed that his country was processing an asylum request from Mr Snowden.
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".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".
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 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".
When asked whether he knew of Mr Snowden's current location he declined to answer.When asked whether he knew of Mr Snowden's current location he declined to answer.
"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"."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".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.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.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. Ecuador is already giving political asylum at 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". On Monday, Ms Assange 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.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.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 earlier said he 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.
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.