Edward Snowden said to seek asylum in Ecuador, Iceland

Monday, June 24, 2013

photo Light shines through a cabin window on seat 17A, the empty seat that an Aeroflot official said was booked in the name of former CIA technician Edward Snowden, shortly before Aeroflot flight SU150 takes off from Moscow to Havana, Cuba, Monday, June 24, 2013. Snowden, who has admitted to leaking National Security Agency secrets, was expected to fly from Russia to Cuba and Venezuela en route to possible asylum in Ecuador, but AP reporters on the flight never saw him get on board.

WikiLeaks officials say former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has applied for asylum in Ecuador, Iceland and possibly other countries.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he cannot go into detail about Snowden's whereabouts except to say that he is safe.

Snowden left Hong Kong Sunday to travel to Ecuador through Moscow and other points to avoid extradition to the U.S. He is facing espionage charges stemming from his disclosure of U.S. surveillance programs that collect phone records and online data in the name of national security.

Snowden was not on a flight to Cuba Monday as expected. Ecuador says it is considering its asylum requests. Snowden had previously discussed seeking asylum in Iceland.

Assange's lawyer has said Snowden does not have many options for asylum.