Brasília – Brazil's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes, has told Agência Brasil that Edward Snowden has applied for asylum in Brazil. However, Silva Nunes adds that the Brazilian government “has no inclination” to answer the request [leaving a request unanswered is diplomatic language for rejecting the request].
A former employee at the United States National Security Agency (NSA), Snowden is accused of espionage for publicly disclosing details of internet and telephone surveillance around the world by US federal agencies.
WikiLeaks reports that Snowden has sought asylum from 21 countries. Faced with growing rejection, Snowden has accused the US government of putting pressure on international leaders to force his extradition back to the US.