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Edward Snowden's Ecuador asylum bid 'may take weeks' | Edward Snowden's Ecuador asylum bid 'may take weeks' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ecuador could take weeks to rule on an asylum bid by fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, officials say. | Ecuador could take weeks to rule on an asylum bid by fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, officials say. |
Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said it had taken Ecuador two months to grant asylum to Julian Assange, the founder of whistleblowing website Wikileaks. | Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said it had taken Ecuador two months to grant asylum to Julian Assange, the founder of whistleblowing website Wikileaks. |
The website has been lending legal support to Mr Snowden, who is in a transit zone at a Moscow airport. | The website has been lending legal support to Mr Snowden, who is in a transit zone at a Moscow airport. |
A Wikileaks Tweet said the American was "well" and being accompanied by one of its legal advisers "at all times". | A Wikileaks Tweet said the American was "well" and being accompanied by one of its legal advisers "at all times". |
The website has not further elaborated on Mr Snowden's whereabouts. | The website has not further elaborated on Mr Snowden's whereabouts. |
Mr Snowden first fled to Hong Kong before flying to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Sunday. | Mr Snowden first fled to Hong Kong before flying to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Sunday. |
He was expected to board a flight to the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Monday but his seat remained vacant. | He was expected to board a flight to the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Monday but his seat remained vacant. |
The 30-year-old IT expert has had his US passport revoked and applied for Ecuadorean asylum. | The 30-year-old IT expert has had his US passport revoked and applied for Ecuadorean asylum. |
'Rights obligations' | |
On Wednesday, Mr Patino compared the case to that of Mr Assange, who has been living inside the Ecuadorean embassy in London for more than a year. | On Wednesday, Mr Patino compared the case to that of Mr Assange, who has been living inside the Ecuadorean embassy in London for more than a year. |
Mr Assange walked into the embassy when his appeal against extradition to Sweden for questioning on accusations of sex crimes was turned down last June. | Mr Assange walked into the embassy when his appeal against extradition to Sweden for questioning on accusations of sex crimes was turned down last June. |
"It took us more than two months to make a decision in the case of Assange, so do not expect us to make a decision sooner this time," Mr Patino told reporters. | "It took us more than two months to make a decision in the case of Assange, so do not expect us to make a decision sooner this time," Mr Patino told reporters. |
He said Ecuador had not yet decided whether to offer protection to Mr Snowden in the meantime. | He said Ecuador had not yet decided whether to offer protection to Mr Snowden in the meantime. |
"If he goes to an embassy, then we will make a decision," the foreign minister said. | |
Ecuador said it would consider the American's application "responsibly" and would weigh "human rights obligations". | |
It added that the US would have to submit its position in writing regarding Mr Snowden. | |
Venezuela has also said it will consider an asylum application from Mr Snowden. | |
Mr Snowden's case has caused a diplomatic spat, with the US accusing Russia and China of assisting the fugitive. Both nations have rejected the charges. | |
'Groundless' accusations | |
Russia earlier confirmed that Mr Snowden was still in a transit zone at the Moscow airport. | |
Although the country has no extradition treaty with the US, Washington said it wanted Moscow to extradite Mr Snowden without delay. | |
But Russia said that the American was technically not yet under its jurisdiction because he had not passed through immigration. | |
Meanwhile China described accusations that it allowed Mr Snowden to leave Hong Kong despite an arrest warrant as "groundless and unacceptable". | |
The Chinese government has expressed deep concern about the leaker's allegations that the US had hacked into networks in China. | |
Mr Snowden is wanted by the US for leaking highly sensitive information to the media about a secret government surveillance programme, which he obtained while working as a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA). | Mr Snowden is wanted by the US for leaking highly sensitive information to the media about 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. |