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Edward Snowden re-emerges for Moscow airport meeting Edward Snowden re-emerges for Moscow airport meeting
(about 2 hours later)
Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has met rights groups and lawyers at a Moscow airport, in his first appearance in three weeks. Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has met human rights groups and lawyers at a Moscow airport, in his first appearance in three weeks.
In a statement, Mr Snowden said he was requesting asylum in Russia because he was unable to travel to Latin America, where Venezuela had granted him asylum.In a statement, Mr Snowden said he was requesting asylum in Russia because he was unable to travel to Latin America, where Venezuela had granted him asylum.
He had dropped an earlier Russian application after Moscow said he could stay only if he stopped the US leaks.He had dropped an earlier Russian application after Moscow said he could stay only if he stopped the US leaks.
The Kremlin reiterated its condition on Friday.The Kremlin reiterated its condition on Friday.
"Mr Snowden could hypothetically stay in Russia if he first, completely stops the activities harming our American partners and US-Russian relations and, second, if he asks for this himself," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said."Mr Snowden could hypothetically stay in Russia if he first, completely stops the activities harming our American partners and US-Russian relations and, second, if he asks for this himself," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"He wants to stay here until he can fly to Latin America," Tatyana Lokshina of Human Rights Watch is quoted as saying. Russian lawmaker Vyacheslav Nikonov, who attended the meeting at Sheremetyevo airport, said Mr Snowden had not specified whether he was seeking temporary or permanent asylum.
But Russian lawmaker Vyacheslav Nikonov, who also attended the meeting at Sheremetyevo airport, said Mr Snowden did not specify whether he was seeking temporary or permanent asylum.
"He said that he needs asylum in Russia to freely move around," Mr Nikonov said. "It suits him perfectly well staying in the airport because everything is fine here. The only thing he wants is to be given freedom of movement.""He said that he needs asylum in Russia to freely move around," Mr Nikonov said. "It suits him perfectly well staying in the airport because everything is fine here. The only thing he wants is to be given freedom of movement."
Mr Snowden is wanted by the US on charges of leaking secrets about US surveillance schemes. Mr Snowden is wanted by the US on charges of leaking secrets about US surveillance schemes. The former CIA contractor has been stuck in transit since arriving in Moscow from Hong Kong on 23 June.
He has sent requests for political asylum to at least 21 countries, most of which have turned down his request. He is unable to leave the transit zone without asylum documents, a valid passport or a Russian visa, none of which he reportedly has.
However, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela have indicated they could take him in. The American has sent requests for political asylum to at least 21 countries, most of which have turned down his request. However, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela have indicated they could take him in.
The American is unable to leave the transit zone without asylum documents, a valid passport or a Russian visa, none of which he reportedly has. But some European countries are likely to close their airspace to any plane suspected of carrying the fugitive.
'Unlawful campaign''Unlawful campaign'
The American has reportedly been stuck in transit since arriving in Moscow from Hong Kong on 23 June. On Friday, Mr Snowden said he formally accepted all offers of support or asylum he had already received "and all others that may be offered in the future".
On Friday, the first photo in three weeks of Mr Snowden emerged. It was taken by Ms Lokshina during the airport meeting. But he added that the US and some European countries had "demonstrated a willingness to act outside the law".
Other activists present at the gathering included Sergei Nikitin, the head of Amnesty International's Russia office, prominent Moscow lawyer Genri Reznik and Russia's presidential human rights ombudsman, Vladimir Lukin. "This unlawful threat makes it impossible for me to travel to Latin America and enjoy the asylum granted there in accordance with our shared rights," Mr Snowden said in a statement released on the Wikileaks website.
Mr Lukin was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying Mr Snowden should be given refugee status instead of political asylum in Russia. "It would be better if the UN or Red Cross did it," he said. He also asked the rights groups and lawyers present at the airport meeting to assist him "in requesting guarantees of safe passage from the relevant nations in securing my travel to Latin America, as well as requesting asylum in Russia".
A large press scrum gathered at the airport ahead of the meeting, while Interfax reported Mr Snowden had moved from his room in the airport's Capsule Hotel to attend the meeting. Mr Snowden had invited around 10 activists, including Sergei Nikitin, the head of Amnesty International's Russia office, prominent Moscow lawyer Genri Reznik and Russia's presidential human rights ombudsman, Vladimir Lukin.
Ms Lokshina earlier posted the text of Mr Snowden's invitation email on her Facebook page. Mr Lukin was later quoted by Interfax news agency as saying Mr Snowden should be given refugee status instead of political asylum in Russia. "It would be better if the UN or Red Cross did it," he said.
In the message, the 30-year-old fugitive complained that the US government was waging an "unlawful campaign" to prevent him from securing asylum. Last month, Mr Snowden had already tried to apply for Russian asylum but President Putin said at the time he would only be welcome if he stopped "his work aimed at inflicting damage on our American partners".
"This dangerous escalation represents a threat not just to the dignity of Latin America or my own personal security, but to the basic right shared by every living person to live free from persecution," the message read. A large press scrum had gathered at the airport ahead of Friday's meeting, which was closed to journalists. Ms Lokshina released a photo showing Mr Snowden at the talks. The fugitive, who is reportedly staying at the airport's Capsule Hotel, had not been seen in public in nearly three weeks.
The email said the fugitive wanted to discuss the "next steps forward" in his situation. He had sent his meeting request via an email message, which instructed those attending to bring a copy of the invitation and identification papers because of tight security.
It also instructed those attending to bring a copy of the invitation and identification papers because of tight security. 'Act of espionage'
The meeting was not open to the press. Mr Snowden said he planned to address journalists at a later stage. Also on Friday, members of the Mercosur, the South American trade bloc, were gathering in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo to discuss allegations of US spying over Latin American governments.
Mr Snowden had already tried to apply for Russian asylum but President Putin said at the time he would only be welcome if he stopped "his work aimed at inflicting damage on our American partners". Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff told reporters that "any act of espionage that violates human rights deserves to be condemned by any country that calls itself democratic".
Even if a country accepted the American's application, getting there could prove difficult. Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela were also expected to give a joint statement condemning European countries for closing their airspace to Bolivian president Evo Morales on his way back from Moscow last week.
Last week, several European countries refused to allow the jet of Bolivian president Evo Morales to cross their airspace on its way back from Moscow - apparently because of suspicions that Edward Snowden was on board. His plane was forced to land in Austria after France, Portugal, Italy and Spain barred it from flying through their airspace - apparently because of suspicions that Mr Snowden was on board.
China tensions Mr Snowden's leaking of thousands of classified US intelligence documents have led to revelations that the National Security Agency is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data.
Washington is seeking to prosecute Mr Snowden over the leaking of thousands of classified US intelligence documents. They have also indicated that both the UK and French intelligence agencies allegedly run similarly vast data collection operations, and the US has been eavesdropping on official EU communications.
The leaks have led to revelations that the National Security Agency is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data.
They have also revealed that both the UK and French intelligence agencies allegedly run similarly vast data collection operations, and the US has been eavesdropping on official EU communications.
The case has strained relations between the US and China.
President Barack Obama said on Thursday he was "disappointed" that China had chosen not to hand over Mr Snowden to the US authorities when he was in Hong Kong in June.
A US government official said the decision had undermined calls for co-operation between the two countries.
But China said Hong Kong - which allowed Mr Snowden to leave for Russia - had acted in accordance with the territory's law.
"Its approach is beyond reproach," Chinese state councillor Yang Jiechi said.