US National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden is "under the care of Russian authorities" and cannot leave Moscow's international airport without his passport, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said today.
Mr Correa said he had no idea Snowden's intended destination was Ecuador when he fled Hong Kong for Russia last week.
He said the Ecuadorean consul in London committed "a serious error" without consulting any officials in Ecuador's capital when the consul issued a letter of safe passage for Snowden.
Correa said "the case is not in Ecuador's hands" and said Snowden must assume responsibility if he broke US laws.
But Correa said the broader legitimacy of Snowden's action must be taken into consideration and Ecuador would still consider an asylum request.
