Kerry Doesn't Want to Damage US-Russian Relations over Edward Snowden; Putin Calls Criticisms "Ravings and Rubbish"
Snowden still reportedly in transit area at Moscow airport
In Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State John Kerry did his best to relay the message he doesn't want a Rocky IV world but does want Russia to ship Edward Snowden back to the U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States is not looking for a confrontation with Russia, where admitted NSA leaker Edward Snowden is believed to be hiding.
Speaking at a news conference in Saudi Arabia, Kerry says it's true that the United States does not have an extradition treaty with Russia but called on Moscow to comply with common law practices between countries where fugitives are concerned.
In Finland, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the idea of sending Snowden back to America.
President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Tuesday a former U.S. spy agency contractor sought by the United States was in the transit area of a Moscow airport but ruled out handing him over to Washington, dismissing U.S. criticisms as "ravings and rubbish".
In his first public comments since the fugitive flew in on Sunday, he appeared to make light of the affair around Edward Snowden, whose flight from U.S. authorities is becoming an increasing embarrassment for President Barack Obama. Asked by a journalist about the affair, he smiled fleetingly.
"I myself would prefer not to deal with these issues. It's like shearing a piglet: there's a lot of squealing, but there's little wool," he told a news conference in Finland.
Snowden was charged with espionage in a sealed criminal complaint last week. Hong Kong told the U.S. over the weekend the extradition request had insufficient detail and that Snowden had left the island. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today that has damaged U.S.-Chinese relations, while Snowden headed to Moscow. He missed a flight to Havana yesterday watched by the press, but remains in the airport's transit area according to the Russian foreign ministry.
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