Snowden Exits Hong Kong; Ecuador Says He Seeks Asylum

6/23/13
 
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from The Wall Street Journal,
6/23/13:

Edward Snowden, the fugitive former contract worker accused of leaking classified U.S. National Security Agency documents, on Sunday traveled from Hong Kong to Moscow and aims to seek asylum in Ecuador, the foreign minister of Ecuador and the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks indicated in separate statements.

Meantime, U.S. authorities pledged to continue pursuing Mr. Snowden.

Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, was quoted on his official Twitter account as saying Mr. Snowden had requested asylum. Mr. Patino is on a trip to Vietnam.

“Ecuador will take the necessary time to evaluate the case and take any decision,” Patricio Barriga, Ecuador’s deputy communications minister said separately.

And in a statement posted on its website Sunday, WikiLeaks said Mr. Snowden “is bound for the Republic of Ecuador via a safe route for the purposes of asylum and is being escorted by diplomats and legal advisers from WikiLeaks.” The group said Mr. Snowden asked it to “use its legal expertise and experience to secure his safety.”

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