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Snowden case: Bolivia condemns jet 'aggression' | Snowden case: Bolivia condemns jet 'aggression' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Bolivia has accused European countries of an "act of aggression" for refusing to allow its presidential jet into their airspace, amid suggestions US fugitive Edward Snowden was on board. | Bolivia has accused European countries of an "act of aggression" for refusing to allow its presidential jet into their airspace, amid suggestions US fugitive Edward Snowden was on board. |
Bolivia said France, Portugal, Spain and Italy had blocked the plane from flying over their territory. | Bolivia said France, Portugal, Spain and Italy had blocked the plane from flying over their territory. |
President Evo Morales was flying back to Bolivia from Moscow when the plane was diverted to Vienna. | President Evo Morales was flying back to Bolivia from Moscow when the plane was diverted to Vienna. |
The jet was reportedly searched for Mr Snowden, wanted for leaking US secrets. | The jet was reportedly searched for Mr Snowden, wanted for leaking US secrets. |
He was apparently not on board and is still believed to be in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, from where he is seeking asylum in Bolivia and several other countries. | He was apparently not on board and is still believed to be in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, from where he is seeking asylum in Bolivia and several other countries. |
Bolivia's UN envoy Sacha Llorenti told reporters in Geneva that he would complain to the UN about the European countries' actions. | Bolivia's UN envoy Sacha Llorenti told reporters in Geneva that he would complain to the UN about the European countries' actions. |
"The decisions of these countries violated international law. We are already making procedures to denounce this to the UN secretary general," he said. | "The decisions of these countries violated international law. We are already making procedures to denounce this to the UN secretary general," he said. |
But France denied refusing the plane permission, and Spain subsequently said its airspace was open to the jet. | But France denied refusing the plane permission, and Spain subsequently said its airspace was open to the jet. |
And a further row broke out about whether the plane had been searched. | And a further row broke out about whether the plane had been searched. |
'Offence against Latin America' | |
Austrian officials said the airport authorities had searched the plane, but Mr Llorenti and other Bolivian officials denied there was any search. | Austrian officials said the airport authorities had searched the plane, but Mr Llorenti and other Bolivian officials denied there was any search. |
The plane took off from Vienna on Wednesday morning. | The plane took off from Vienna on Wednesday morning. |
Mr Morales said presidents should have the right to travel anywhere in the world. | Mr Morales said presidents should have the right to travel anywhere in the world. |
"It's not an offence against the president, it is an offence against the country, against the whole of the Latin American region," he said before taking off. | "It's not an offence against the president, it is an offence against the country, against the whole of the Latin American region," he said before taking off. |
Mr Snowden is wanted by the US on charges of leaking secrets he gathered while working as a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA), America's electronic spying agency. | Mr Snowden is wanted by the US on charges of leaking secrets he gathered while working as a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA), America's electronic spying agency. |
The leaking of thousands of classified intelligence documents prompted revelations that the US has been systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data. | The leaking of thousands of classified intelligence documents prompted revelations that the US has been systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data. |
National Intelligence Director James Clapper apologised on Tuesday for telling Congress in March that the NSA did not have a policy of gathering data on millions of Americans. | National Intelligence Director James Clapper apologised on Tuesday for telling Congress in March that the NSA did not have a policy of gathering data on millions of Americans. |
He said in a letter to the Senate intelligence committee that his answer had been "clearly erroneous". | He said in a letter to the Senate intelligence committee that his answer had been "clearly erroneous". |
China, Russia and several European countries have expressed anger with the US over the apparent scale of its surveillance programme. | China, Russia and several European countries have expressed anger with the US over the apparent scale of its surveillance programme. |