Snowden Says US and UK "Worst Offenders" When it Comes to "Criminal Surveillance Programs"

Comments made in letter published by German newspaper Der Spiegel

Edward Snowden may be hiding out in Russia, but he isn't doing so quietly - penning a strongly world letter decrying "criminal surveillance programs" run by major world powers, naming the U.S. and Britain as the "worst offenders," in his piece for Germany's Der Spiegel magazine.

The NSA whistleblower, who has been sheltered in Russia since June, lashed out at the superpowers for snooping without restrictions, citing new information leaked by him that alleges the U.S. listened in on German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cellphone and spied on officials of close allies including Spain, France and Brazil.