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Several European countries have refused to welcome former National Security Agency (NSA) IT expert Edward Snowden, who is wanted by Washington for disclosing information about US programmes which spy on America's allies. Snowden is currently in legal limbo in a Moscow airport.
On July 2, Finland rejected Snowden’s application for political asylum, on the basis that he was not present on Finnish territory when it was submitted, reports Hufvudstadsbladet. Germany, Austria, Spain, Norway, Poland and Switzerland have also refused applications on the same basis.
Later in the day, a plane leaving Moscow and heading for Bolivia carrying the nation's president, Evo Morales, was rerouted to Vienna, because France, Spain, Italy and Portugal, refused to let it cross their airspace, due to suspicions that the American was on board. Austrian and Bolivian authorities subsequently denied that he was on the aircraft.
