Political blow to Washington
Fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has asked Ecuador for asylum after leaking sensational details of secret U.S. surveillance programs.
Earlier, U.S. officials were indignant to learn that Snowden had arrived in the Russian capital after being allowed to depart Hong Kong and largely viewed it as a political blow to Washington.
Snowden fled Hong Kong on Sunday to dodge U.S. efforts to extradite him on espionage charges. Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said his government had received an asylum request, adding Monday that the decision "has to do with freedom of expression and with the security of citizens around the world."
U.S. President has tried to restore good relations with Russia and lay foundations for cooperation with China, but the leaders of Russia and China two leaders have blown Obama's reputation with their decision to give asylum to Snowden.
U.S. authorities have charged Snowden with theft of federal government property, unauthorized communication of national defence information and willful communication of classified communications intelligence to an unauthorized person, with the latter two charges falling under the U.S. Espionage Act.
