WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called whistleblower Edward Snowden a 'hero' for exposing the secret surveillance programme by US.
Snowden who is found to be missing from the Hong Kong hotel is attempting to escape the US prosecution for violating the Espionage Act.
According to The Independent, one of Hong Kong's top politicians has advised Snowden to leave the country in his best interest.
Snowden's fleeing to Hong Kong may not help him put off the US prosecution due to the extradition treaty in force since 1998.
Assange said that the NSA whistleblower is in a very serious position because the kind of actions taken against him and Bradley Manning may also be taken against Snowden.
Online petitions on the White House website have garnered much public support appealing for pardoning Snowden who leaked the US attempts at monitoring citizens' web activities, the report added.
