Venezuela, Nicaragua 'offer' asylum to NSA whistleblower Snowden

Nicaragua and Venezuela have indicated their countries could offer political asylum to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said it would give asylum to Snowden, who is believed to be holed up in a transit area of Moscow airport.

Maduro made his announcement in a speech on Venezuela's Independence Day.

He said that as being the head of state and government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela he has decided to offer humanitarian asylum to Snowden so he can come and live in the country and live away from the imperial North American persecution.

Meanwhile, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said his country would do so 'if circumstances permit'.

Earlier Ortega said Nicaragua had received an application at its embassy in Moscow.

He said that the country was open, respectful of the right to asylum, and it is clear that if circumstances permit it, they would receive Snowden with pleasure and give him asylum in Nicaragua.

According to the BBC, Wikileaks said Snowden had applied to six additional countries for granting him asylum on Friday, but did not name the countries due to attempted US interference.

Snowden has already asked 21 countries for asylum, most of whom have turned down his request.

The US wants to prosecute Snowden over the leaking of thousands of classified intelligence documents.