This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23468459
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Russia and US security services 'in talks' over Snowden | Russia and US security services 'in talks' over Snowden |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The American FBI and Russian FSB security services are "in talks" over US fugitive Edward Snowden, according to the Russian president's spokesman. | The American FBI and Russian FSB security services are "in talks" over US fugitive Edward Snowden, according to the Russian president's spokesman. |
However, Dmitry Peskov repeated Russia's position that it would "not hand anyone over". | |
Mr Snowden has been stuck in transit at a Moscow airport for the past month as he has no valid travel documents. | |
The US Attorney General, Eric Holder, has sought to assure Moscow he would not face the death penalty in America. | |
Washington wants him extradited for leaking details of surveillance programmes. | |
Diplomatic ructions | |
Mr Peskov did not specify what the nature of the talks between the agencies was. | Mr Peskov did not specify what the nature of the talks between the agencies was. |
He did, however, remind reporters that President Vladimir Putin had expressed a strong determination not to allow the case to interfere with US-Russian relations. | He did, however, remind reporters that President Vladimir Putin had expressed a strong determination not to allow the case to interfere with US-Russian relations. |
Mr Putin had not taken part in any discussions with the American authorities over Mr Snowden case, Mr Peskov said. | Mr Putin had not taken part in any discussions with the American authorities over Mr Snowden case, Mr Peskov said. |
Mr Snowden "has not made any request that would require examination by the head of state", Mr Peskov added. | Mr Snowden "has not made any request that would require examination by the head of state", Mr Peskov added. |
The Russian president has refused to hand him to the American authorities, but said he could stay in Russia only if he stopped leaking US secrets. | |
Mr Snowden, whose passport has been cancelled by the US, has been in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since arriving from Hong Kong on 23 June. | Mr Snowden, whose passport has been cancelled by the US, has been in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since arriving from Hong Kong on 23 June. |
On Thursday Mr Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena denied earlier reports that Mr Snowden had been given Russian travel documents. | On Thursday Mr Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena denied earlier reports that Mr Snowden had been given Russian travel documents. |
Mr Snowden has requested temporary asylum in Russia, and said recently his favoured final destination was Latin America. | Mr Snowden has requested temporary asylum in Russia, and said recently his favoured final destination was Latin America. |
In a letter to Russian Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov, Mr Holder said that the charges against Mr Snowden were not punishable by death. | |
If additional charges were brought which could incur capital punishment, the US would not seek to impose such a penalty, he added. | |
The Snowden affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting America's close allies and traditional enemies. | The Snowden affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting America's close allies and traditional enemies. |
Leaks by the former CIA worker have led to revelations that the US National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting Americans' phone records. | Leaks by the former CIA worker have led to revelations that the US National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting Americans' phone records. |
On Wednesday evening, an attempt to block funding for the programme narrowly failed in a 205-217 vote in the US House of Representatives. | On Wednesday evening, an attempt to block funding for the programme narrowly failed in a 205-217 vote in the US House of Representatives. |
The White House had lobbied Congress to support the surveillance. | The White House had lobbied Congress to support the surveillance. |
Opponents of the US, including Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua, have all offered Mr Snowden asylum. | Opponents of the US, including Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua, have all offered Mr Snowden asylum. |