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US whistleblower Snowden 'still in Moscow airport' US whistleblower Snowden 'still in Moscow airport'
(about 2 hours later)
Fugitive US whistleblower Edward Snowden is still in the transit area at Moscow airport, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has confirmed.Fugitive US whistleblower Edward Snowden is still in the transit area at Moscow airport, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has confirmed.
Mr Putin said the intelligence leaker remained a free man, and the sooner he chose a destination the better.Mr Putin said the intelligence leaker remained a free man, and the sooner he chose a destination the better.
The US said earlier that it did not seek "confrontation", but that Russia should hand over Mr Snowden. But a White House spokeswoman said Russia had a "clear legal basis" to expel Mr Snowden.
Because Mr Snowden is in the pre-immigration area of the airport, he is technically not yet on Russian soil.Because Mr Snowden is in the pre-immigration area of the airport, he is technically not yet on Russian soil.
The Russians have rejected American charges that they have assisted Mr Snowden.The Russians have rejected American charges that they have assisted Mr Snowden.
China has also rejected similar charges, saying accusations that it allowed him to leave Hong Kong despite a warrant for his arrest were "groundless and unacceptable".China has also rejected similar charges, saying accusations that it allowed him to leave Hong Kong despite a warrant for his arrest were "groundless and unacceptable".
Mr Snowden flew from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday. He was expected to board a flight to the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Monday but never appeared.Mr Snowden flew from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday. He was expected to board a flight to the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Monday but never appeared.
The US has revoked Mr Snowden's passport, and he has applied for asylum in Ecuador.The US has revoked Mr Snowden's passport, and he has applied for asylum in Ecuador.
He is being supported by the whistleblowing website Wikileaks, and is being accompanied by some of its legal advisers.He is being supported by the whistleblowing website Wikileaks, and is being accompanied by some of its legal advisers.
Ecuador is already giving political asylum at its London embassy to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.Ecuador is already giving political asylum at its London embassy to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
'Common law''Common law'
Speaking at a news conference earlier on Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry called on Moscow to comply with common law practices between countries and extradite Mr Snowden to America. Russia has no extradition treaty with the United States, but National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said that Washington wanted Moscow to extradite Mr Snowden without delay.
"There are standards of behaviour between sovereign nations. There is common law,'' Mr Kerry said. Earlier on Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry also called on Moscow to comply with common law practices between countries and send Mr Snowden to America.
"We would simply call on our friends in Russia to respect the fact that a partner nation- a co-member of the permanent five of the United Nations [Security Council] - has made a normal request under legal systems.'' "We would simply call on our friends in Russia to respect the fact that a partner nation- a co-member of the permanent five of the United Nations [Security Council] - has made a normal request under legal systems,'' he said.
But Mr Putin said that Russian security agencies "didn't work and aren't working" with Mr Snowden.But Mr Putin said that Russian security agencies "didn't work and aren't working" with Mr Snowden.
His comments back up those of his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, who earlier insisted that "we are in no way involved with either Mr Snowden, his relations with US justice, nor his movements around the world." . His comments back up those of his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, who earlier insisted that "we are in no way involved with either Mr Snowden, his relations with US justice, nor his movements around the world."
The 30-year-old IT expert is wanted by the US for revealing to the media details of a secret government surveillance programme, which he obtained while working as a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA).The 30-year-old IT expert is wanted by the US for revealing to the media details of a secret government surveillance programme, which he obtained while working as a 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.
'Sanctimonious mask''Sanctimonious mask'
Mr Snowden was in hiding in Hong Kong when his leaks were first published, and John Kerry said it would be "deeply troubling" if it became clear that China had "wilfully" allowed Mr Snowden to fly out of Hong Kong.Mr Snowden was in hiding in Hong Kong when his leaks were first published, and John Kerry said it would be "deeply troubling" if it became clear that China had "wilfully" allowed Mr Snowden to fly out of Hong Kong.
"There would be without any question some effect and impact on the relationship and consequences," he said."There would be without any question some effect and impact on the relationship and consequences," he said.
But China is also unhappy. Its government has expressed concern about Mr Snowden's allegations that the US had hacked into networks in China.But China is also unhappy. Its government has expressed concern about Mr Snowden's allegations that the US had hacked into networks in China.
Tuesday saw the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party praise Mr Snowden for "tearing off Washington's sanctimonious mask".Tuesday saw the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party praise Mr Snowden for "tearing off Washington's sanctimonious mask".
In a strongly worded front-page commentary, the overseas edition of the People's Daily said: "Not only did the US authorities not give us an explanation and apology, it instead expressed dissatisfaction at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for handling things in accordance with law.In a strongly worded front-page commentary, the overseas edition of the People's Daily said: "Not only did the US authorities not give us an explanation and apology, it instead expressed dissatisfaction at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for handling things in accordance with law.
"In a sense, the United States has gone from a 'model of human rights' to 'an eavesdropper on personal privacy', the 'manipulator' of the centralised power over the international internet, and the mad 'invader' of other countries' networks.""In a sense, the United States has gone from a 'model of human rights' to 'an eavesdropper on personal privacy', the 'manipulator' of the centralised power over the international internet, and the mad 'invader' of other countries' networks."
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.
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 target intentionally any Americans or anyone in the US, and stress that it is supervised by judges.They say Prism cannot be used to target intentionally any Americans or anyone in the US, and stress that it is supervised by judges.