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Snowden 'asylum requests to 21 countries' - Wikileaks Snowden 'asylum requests to 21 countries' - Wikileaks
(about 1 hour later)
US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has sent asylum requests to 21 countries, according to a statement published by Wikileaks. Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has sent asylum requests to 21 countries, according to a statement published by Wikileaks.
They include China, France, Ireland and Venezuela. Russia and Norway confirmed they had received applications.They include China, France, Ireland and Venezuela. Russia and Norway confirmed they had received applications.
But Russia said he later withdrew the application as the Kremlin had set conditions.
Mr Snowden accuses US President Barack Obama of putting pressure on the countries to which he has applied.Mr Snowden accuses US President Barack Obama of putting pressure on the countries to which he has applied.
The former CIA analyst, who is holed at Moscow airport, is wanted by the US on charges of leaking secrets.The former CIA analyst, who is holed at Moscow airport, is wanted by the US on charges of leaking secrets.
US Secretary of State John Kerry was holding talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Asean summit Brunei, which were expected to include Mr Snowden's case. US Secretary of State John Kerry was expected to discuss Mr Snowden's case in talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Brunei.
The Wikileaks press release said that most of the asylum requests - including to Russia itself - were handed to the Russian consulate at Sheremetyevo airport late on Sunday for delivery to the relevant embassies in Moscow.The Wikileaks press release said that most of the asylum requests - including to Russia itself - were handed to the Russian consulate at Sheremetyevo airport late on Sunday for delivery to the relevant embassies in Moscow.
The requests were submitted by Sarah Harrison, a British member of the Wikileaks legal team acting as Mr Snowden's representative, the statement added.The requests were submitted by Sarah Harrison, a British member of the Wikileaks legal team acting as Mr Snowden's representative, the statement added.
A Russian official confirmed that a request had been received, but the Kremlin has made no comment. But a Kremlin spokesman later said Mr Snowden withdrew the application to Russia because Moscow had said he should give up "anti-American activity".
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow "never hands over anybody anywhere and has no intention of doing so". Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that while Moscow "never hands over anybody anywhere", Mr Snowden could only stay on condition that he stopped damaging Russia's "American partners" with his leaks.
He suggested Mr Snowden could stay on the condition he stops damaging Russia's "American partners" with his leaks. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski said on Twitter his country had received an application but that he would not be recommending granting the request.
Norway's foreign ministry later said its embassy in Moscow had received an application by fax which was "probably from him".Norway's foreign ministry later said its embassy in Moscow had received an application by fax which was "probably from him".
Mr Snowden had already submitted an application to Ecuador, whose embassy in London is sheltering Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, and to Iceland. But Norway, Poland, Germany, Austria, Finland and Switzerland said asylum requests could only be made on their soil.
Ecuador's President Rafael Correa told the Agence France-Presse news agency on Monday that his country would process Mr Snowden's asylum request if he manages to enter an Ecuadorean embassy. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is on a visit to Moscow, said Caracas had not yet received an asylum application from Mr Snowden but that he had "done something very important for humanity" and "deserved the world's protection".
However, if he can complete his asylum request on Russian territory , then "the situation can be processed and resolved there," President Correa adds. Mr Snowden had previously submitted an application to Ecuador, whose embassy in London is sheltering Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, and to Iceland.
Ecuador's President Rafael Correa told the Agence France-Presse news agency on Monday that his country would process Mr Snowden's asylum request if he managed to enter an Ecuadorean embassy.
However, if he can complete his asylum request on Russian territory , then "the situation can be processed and resolved there," President Correa added.
Details have also emerged of a letter from Mr Snowden to President Correa, thanking Ecuador for guaranteeing "my rights would be protected upon departing Hong Kong - I could never have risked travel without that".Details have also emerged of a letter from Mr Snowden to President Correa, thanking Ecuador for guaranteeing "my rights would be protected upon departing Hong Kong - I could never have risked travel without that".
Mr Snowden has reportedly been in the transit area of Sheremetyevo since arriving there from Hong Kong on 23 June.Mr Snowden has reportedly been in the transit area of Sheremetyevo since arriving there from Hong Kong on 23 June.
'Stateless person''Stateless person'
Speaking in Tanzania on Monday, President Barack Obama said Moscow and Washington had held "high level discussions" about Mr Snowden, who he said had travelled to Moscow without valid documents.Speaking in Tanzania on Monday, President Barack Obama said Moscow and Washington had held "high level discussions" about Mr Snowden, who he said had travelled to Moscow without valid documents.
Mr Snowden describes himself as "a stateless person", accusing the US government of stopping him from exercising the "basic right...to seek asylum".Mr Snowden describes himself as "a stateless person", accusing the US government of stopping him from exercising the "basic right...to seek asylum".
"The president ordered his vice president to pressure the leaders of nations from which I have requested protection to deny my asylum petitions," he is quoted by Wikileaks as saying."The president ordered his vice president to pressure the leaders of nations from which I have requested protection to deny my asylum petitions," he is quoted by Wikileaks as saying.
"This kind of deception from a world leader is not justice, and neither is the extralegal penalty of exile. These are the old, bad tools of political aggression. Their purpose is to frighten, not me, but those who would come after me.""This kind of deception from a world leader is not justice, and neither is the extralegal penalty of exile. These are the old, bad tools of political aggression. Their purpose is to frighten, not me, but those who would come after me."
The leaking of thousands of classified intelligence documents has led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data.The leaking of thousands of classified intelligence documents has led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data.