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US intelligence leaker Snowden leaves Moscow airport Snowden leaves airport after getting asylum in Russia
(35 minutes later)
US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has left the Moscow airport where he has been staying since June, his lawyer and airport officials say. US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has left the Moscow airport where he has been staying since June after being granted temporary asylum.
The lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, said he had received the necessary papers to enter Russian territory from the transit zone at Sheremetyevo Airport. He left unobserved after receiving, his lawyer said, the necessary papers to enter Russian territory from Sheremetyevo Airport's transit zone.
Unconfirmed reports say he has been granted temporary asylum in Russia.
The US has charged Mr Snowden with leaking details of its electronic surveillance programmes.The US has charged Mr Snowden with leaking details of its electronic surveillance programmes.
He arrived in Moscow on 23 June from Hong Kong, after making his revelations. Russia's decision is likely to further strain its ties with the US.
A strongly worded US reaction can be expected shortly, as the news sinks in in the US, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Moscow.
Mr Snowden arrived in Moscow on 23 June from Hong Kong, after making his revelations.
The Snowden affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting the United States' close allies and traditional enemies.The Snowden affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting the United States' close allies and traditional enemies.
Status question 'Most pursued man'
Mr Snowden left the airport around 14:00 local time (10:00 GMT), the airport press office told the BBC.Mr Snowden left the airport around 14:00 local time (10:00 GMT), the airport press office told the BBC.
Despite the heavy presence of news organisations at the airport, his departure was apparently not spotted by media.Despite the heavy presence of news organisations at the airport, his departure was apparently not spotted by media.
It is unclear if he has been given the temporary asylum status he has requested or is still going through the process, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Moscow. One may assume it is quite likely he will be granted the status, he adds. The lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, said: "His location is not being made public for security reasons since he is the most pursued man on the planet. He himself will decide where he will go."
However, the whistleblowing organisation Wikileaks, which has been helping him since he made his revelations, said in a tweet that he had been given refugee status. The whistleblowing organisation Wikileaks, which has been helping him since he made his revelations, said in a tweet that he had been given asylum.
"Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia for a year and has now left Moscow airport under the care of Wikileaks' Sarah Harrison," it said."Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia for a year and has now left Moscow airport under the care of Wikileaks' Sarah Harrison," it said.
The report could not be verified independently but Mr Kucherena also said he had been awarded temporary asylum. Ms Harrison is a member of the Wikileaks legal team and has been helping Mr Snowden.
A strongly worded US reaction can be expected shortly, as the news sinks in in the US, our correspondent says. Mr Kucherena also said he had been awarded temporary asylum.
US Attorney General Eric Holder has given Moscow an assurance that Mr Snowden will not face the death penalty if extradited, but the Russians say they do not intend to hand him over.US Attorney General Eric Holder has given Moscow an assurance that Mr Snowden will not face the death penalty if extradited, but the Russians say they do not intend to hand him over.