Snowden checking asylum offers

Still trapped in a Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport over two weeks, U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden soon has to decide where to seek asylum. After Venezuela and Nicaraguan, Bolivia offered him political asylum refusing USA’s strong objection.

Snowden has yet to reply Venezuela’s official offer. Foreign Affairs Minister Elias Jaua said that Snowden has not contacted them yet and the offer will last till Monday.

“There has not been any type of communication. We are waiting until Monday to know whether he confirms his wish to take asylum in Venezuela,” Jaua said on state television on Saturday.

Bolivian President Evo Morales on Saturday offered Snowden asylum in protest against the U.S. and European nations.

“We have decided to offer humanitarian asylum to the American Edward Snowden to protect him from the persecution being unleashed by the world’s most powerful empire,” Maduro said.

On Friday, Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega offered permission of asylum to Snowden.

Meanwhile US warned the countries which offer fugitive asylum to Snowden and continues efforts to have him extradited.

“It’s very clear that any of these countries that accept Snowden and offer him political asylum is taking a step against the United States. It’s making a very clear statement. I’m not surprised by the countries that are offering him asylum; they like sticking it to the United States,” Senator Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program.

The 30-year-old former NSA computer specialist, Edward Snowden revealed a massive US surveillance program 2 weeks back through WikiLeaks and do not wish to return US as he fears unfair trail.

“It is unlikely I would receive a fair trial and proper treatment prior to that trial, and face the possibility of life in prison and even death,” he wrote in a letter published by Nicaraguan state media on Sunday.

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