US Expects Russia to Examine 'All Options' to Expel Fugitive Contractor | WPN World People News

White House officials say they expect Russia to examine "all options available" to expel a former U.S. intelligence contractor back to the United States to face espionage charges.

Edward Snowden arrived in Moscow from Hong Kong. He is trying to avoid extradition related to his disclosure of secret details of the U.S. government's broad surveillance of telephone and Internet activities at home and abroad.

National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden says the White House is disappointed that Snowden was allowed to leave Hong Kong despite a "legally valid" request for his arrest. The statement early says the United States has registered "strong objections" with authorities in Hong Kong and the Chinese government.

Meanwhile, Ecuador says it has received and is analyzing Snowden's request for asylum.

He remained inside Moscow's airport after arriving, and Russian news agencies said he is expected to leave on a flight to Cuba before continuing to his final destination.

U.S. officials say Snowden's passport was revoked before he left Hong Kong for Moscow. The government has advised countries where Snowden may pass through or serve as his final destination that he is wanted on felony charges and should not be allowed to travel internationally.

The anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks said its legal advisors and unidentified diplomats accompanied Snowden as he fled to Moscow. It said the escorts will remain with Snowden as he travels to Ecuador, one of Latin America's strongest critics of U.S. foreign policy.

Ecuador has sheltered WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at its London embassy for the past year to prevent his possible extradition to the United States where he faces charges related to the group's publication of secret U.S. diplomatic cables in 2010.

Snowden leaked documents showing that U.S. intelligence services have gathered data for years about patterns of telephone and Internet use at home and abroad. He said he believes the programs violate the privacy rights of citizens.

A senior administration official sharply criticized Snowden's motives, saying his focus on transparency and individual rights "is belied by the protectors he has potentially chosen." The official listed China, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and Ecuador, saying Snowden's failure to criticize those governments shows his "true motive" was to harm U.S. national security.

Senior U.S. officials have said the surveillance programs do not monitor the content of phone conversations, but look for patterns in the metadata, including information on the time, date and numbers called.

U.S. authorities also have said the programs prevented at least 50 terrorist attacks worldwide since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. They have accused Snowden of weakening their ability to foil future plots.

Source: Voice of America