Edward Snowden 'Requests Asylum In Ecuador'

The whistleblower Edward Snowden, who leaked details about snooping carried out by the US government, has landed in Moscow after flying from Hong Kong.

The whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, which says it is now representing Snowden, said he is using Moscow as a transit point to a third country.

That country appears to be Ecaudor, after the Reuters news agency reported that the country's ambassador to Russia had arrived at a hotel near Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.

A car bearing the country's flag was also seen outside the airport, while the AFP news agency said that he had requested asylum in the South American country.

Snowden's flight touched down at 5.05pm, according to Russia's Interfax news agency.

Snowden's route since leaving Hawaii and his possible next destinations

WikiLeaks said he "is bound for a democratic nation via a safe route for the purposes of asylum, and is being escorted by diplomats and legal advisors from WikiLeaks".

A spokesman said: "Mr Snowden requested that WikiLeaks use its legal expertise and experience to secure his safety. Once Mr Snowden arrives at his final destination his request will be formally processed."

Spanish Judge Mr Baltasar Garzon, legal director of Wikileaks and lawyer for Julian Assange added: "The WikiLeaks legal team and I are interested in preserving Mr Snowden's rights and protecting him as a person.

"What is being done to Mr Snowden and to Mr Julian Assange - for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest - is an assault against the people".

WikiLeaks said he was being accompanied by Sarah Harrison, described by them as a UK citizen, journalist and legal researcher.

A twitter picture of Snowden's plane in Moscow. Credit @Russian_Market

Earlier, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency said he may be heading to Cuba and then on to Venezuela.

Itar-Tass said there is a flight ticket in his name from Moscow to Cuba and that he will then fly on to Caracas. It said that his flight to Havana from Moscow would take place on Monday.

Interfax said it was possible he would spend the night at the Venezuelan embassy, meaning he would not need a visa as he would be travelling and staying entirely with diplomatic staff.

The South China Morning Post said Snowden's flight left Hong Kong around 11am local time (4am UK time) and he was due to arrive in Moscow around 5.15pm local time (2.15pm UK time).

There has been speculation he may be eventually heading for Ecuador as he is being helped by WikiLeaks, whose founder Julian Assange has also been granted asylum in the South American country.

A still picture of Sarah Harrison taken from a video put out by WikiLeaks

Assange is currently in the Ecuador embassy in London. He is unable to leave without being arrested as he is wanted for questioning by Sweden over alleged sexual offences.

From the delegation which had arrived at the airport to meet him, it appears most likely he is heading to Ecuador.

Assange confirmed his organisation's involvement to Australian newspaper the Sydney Morning Herald.

He said: "Mr Snowden is ... accompanied by WikiLeaks legal advisers.

"He ... will be met by diplomats from the country that will be his ultimate destination. Diplomats from that country will accompany him on a further flight to his destination."

Assange declined to name the country in question in advance of a formal announcement, but described it as a "democratic country" and said that Mr Snowden would be able to travel "by a safe route" and that papers had been issued to ensure his safe passage.

Snowden left Hong Kong after The White House asked the autonomous Chinese territory to extradite him. He had earlier been charged in the US with espionage.

The Hong Kong government has said that although the US had sought his extradition, the request did not fully comply with requirements. It said that as a result, he was free to leave.

Snowden was revealed earlier this month to have been the man who leaked to the Guardian and Washington Post newspapers information about monitoring by America's National Security Agency.

Snowden claimed the NSA has been keeping details of millions of phone calls by Americans and monitoring the use by foreigners of internet sites including Google, Facebook and Yahoo.

The South China Morning Post reported that Snowden's departure was a relief to the Hong Kong government, which had been making all legal preparation to deal with new developments regarding the case.

The US Department of Justice said it would be talking to the Hong Kong government.

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