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Ecuador cannot recognize Snowden’s ‘world citizen’ passport

Other News Materials 12 July 2013 05:51 (UTC +04:00)

Ecuador will not recognize the passport of a citizen of the world, issued for ex-CIA employee Edward Snowden, if the American attempts to enter the country, an Ecuadorian deputy foreign minister said on Thursday, RIA Novosti reported.

The World Service Authority (WSA), a Washington-based charity and executive branch of the World Government of World Citizens, issued earlier in the week a passport of the citizen of the world for Snowden, as his American passport was revoked by the US authorities.

"We are not recognizing this passport, international or universal, as valid to enter the country," Marco Albuja said in an interview with FM Mundo radio station.

Snowden, who is wanted by the United States for leaking details of secret state surveillance programs, arrived in Russia on a flight to Moscow from Hong Kong on June 23. The US authorities have revoked Snowden's passport, and he is now believed to be holed up in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.

Snowden has submitted more than 20 requests for asylum. Most have been rejected, or countries have told the former National Security Agency contractor that he must be present on their soil to submit such an application.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday that his country had received a request for political asylum from Snowden and was waiting for his arrival.

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