US Denounces Snowden’s Russian Asylum

{{The US has labelled Russia’s decision to grant asylum to fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden as “extremely disappointing”.}}

The White House is reconsidering a meeting scheduled for next month between President Barack Obama and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The US wants Mr Snowden extradited and tried for leaking secrets.

Mr Snowden, who left a Moscow airport transit zone for the first time since June, thanked Russia for its action.

‘Stab in the back’

Mr Obama had been scheduled to meet Mr Putin on the sidelines of a G20 summit in early September in St Petersburg.

However, White House spokesman Jay Carney said: “We’re extremely disappointed that the Russian government would take this step despite our very clear and lawful requests in public and in private to have Mr Snowden expelled to the United States to face the charges against him.

“We’re evaluating the utility of a summit in light of this and other issues.”

Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer, an ally of Mr Obama, said Russia’s decision was a “stab in the back” and urged the president to recommend relocating the G20 summit away from Russia.

Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain said there should be “serious repercussions”.

Russia has consistently played down the importance of the issue and insisted relations with the US should be unaffected.

{wirestory}