Moscow: Barack Obama

Barack Obama: Snowden, until recently a contractor with the U.S. National Security Agency, had been expected to fly to Havana from Moscow on Monday, perhaps on the way to Ecuador, according to sources at the Russian airline Aeroflot. But he was not seen on the daily Aeroflot flight that landed in Havana on Monday evening. The U.S. State Department said diplomats and Justice Department officials were engaged in discussions with Russia, suggesting they were looking for a deal to secure his return. We hope that the Russian government will look at all available options to return Mr. Snowden back to the U.S. to face justice for the crimes with which he is charged, spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters, according to The Star. U.S. President Barack Obama may face prolonged embarrassment from a young American leading the country on a global game of hide and seek. Washington has been stung by the defiance from Russia, with which Obama has sought improved relations, and by Chinas apparent compliance in letting Snowden leave Hong Kong. Obama has met the leaders of both powers recently. White House spokesman Jay Carney slammed those countries from which Snowden had chosen to seek protection, saying his choices belied his claim that he was focused on supporting transparency, freedom of the press and individuals rights. The Russian news agency Interfax quoted an unnamed source as saying Moscow could not arrest or deport Snowden because he had not actually entered Russian territory suggesting he had remained in the transit area at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport and MOSCOW The United States increased pressure on Russia on Monday to hand over Edward Snowden, the American charged with disclosing secret U.S. surveillance programs, and said it believed he was still in Moscow. Snowden, 30, flew to Moscow after being allowed to leave Hong Kong on Sunday, even though Washington had asked the Chinese territory to detain him pending his possible extradition on espionage charges. Julian Assange, founder of anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, said Snowden had fled to Moscow en route to Ecuador. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.