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Obama: Edward Snowden extradition a legal matter Obama refuses to barter for Edward Snowden
(35 minutes later)
President Barack Obama says efforts to arrest US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden will be dealt with through routine legal channels. President Barack Obama has refused to engage in "wheeling and dealing" as part of extradition efforts against US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden.
"I am not going to be scrambling jets to get a 29-year-old hacker," said Mr Obama, speaking on a visit to the West African nation of Senegal. Speaking on a visit to the West African nation of Senegal, Mr Obama also said the case would be dealt with through routine legal channels.
He also said he had not called China and Russia's presidents about the case. "I am not going to be scrambling jets to get a 29-year-old hacker," he added.
Mr Snowden, who faces US espionage charges, flew to Moscow at the weekend and requested asylum in Ecuador. Mr Snowden, who faces espionage charges, flew to Moscow last weekend and requested asylum in Ecuador.
Mr Obama said the case highlighted significant vulnerabilities at the National Security Agency, the US electronic spying agency where Mr Snowden worked as a contractor until last month. Mr Obama said on Thursday that he had not called China and Russia's presidents about the case, adding: "I shouldn't have to."
He told a news conference in the Senegalese capital Dakar: "I'm not going to have one case of a suspect who we're trying to extradite suddenly being elevated to the point where I've got to start doing wheeling and dealing and trading on a whole host of other issues."
He added: "My continued expectation is that Russia or other countries that have talked about potentially providing Mr Snowden asylum recognise that they are a part of an international community and they should be abiding by international law."
'Hypocritical'
Mr Obama also said the case highlighted significant vulnerabilities at the National Security Agency, the US electronic spying agency where Mr Snowden worked as a contractor until last month.
But the American president added he was still interested in a "healthy, effective debate" about striking the right balance between privacy and security.
He was speaking on the first leg of an African tour that will also take in South Africa and Tanzania. He will not visit Kenya, where his father was born, amid US concern over allegations that country's president fomented election violence.
Meanwhile, Ecuador's government said on Thursday that it had not processed Mr Snowden's asylum request because he had not reached any of its diplomatic premises.Meanwhile, Ecuador's government said on Thursday that it had not processed Mr Snowden's asylum request because he had not reached any of its diplomatic premises.
'Hypocritical behaviour' Ecuador also poured scorn on any suggestion that a special trade relationship the country has with the US might influence any decision on Mr Snowden's case.
Mr Snowden is wanted for leaking to the media that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data under a surveillance programme known as Prism. The American is wanted for leaking to the media that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data under a surveillance programme known as Prism.
He fled to Hong Kong on 20 May before flying to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Sunday.He fled to Hong Kong on 20 May before flying to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Sunday.
Mr Snowden's case has caused a diplomatic spat, with the US accusing Russia and China of assisting the fugitive. Both nations deny the charges.Mr Snowden's case has caused a diplomatic spat, with the US accusing Russia and China of assisting the fugitive. Both nations deny the charges.
On Thursday, Beijing accused the US of "double standards" and hypocrisy on cyber security.On Thursday, Beijing accused the US of "double standards" and hypocrisy on cyber security.
China's defence ministry said the Prism programme "has revealed the concerned country's true face and hypocritical behaviour".China's defence ministry said the Prism programme "has revealed the concerned country's true face and hypocritical behaviour".
Although Russia has no extradition treaty with the US, Washington says it wants Moscow to extradite Mr Snowden without delay.Although Russia has no extradition treaty with the US, Washington says it wants Moscow to extradite Mr Snowden without delay.
But Russia said the American, who turned 30 last week, was technically not yet under its jurisdiction because he had not passed through immigration.But Russia said the American, who turned 30 last week, was technically not yet under its jurisdiction because he had not passed through immigration.
Russia has denied reports that its secret police have questioned Mr Snowden, who has had his US passport revoked.Russia has denied reports that its secret police have questioned Mr Snowden, who has had his US passport revoked.
Venezuela has also said it would consider an asylum application from him.Venezuela has also said it would consider an asylum application from him.
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.
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.