U.S. calls Russia to expel Snowden

The White House called Tuesday on Russia to expel fugitive US whistleblower Edward Snowden after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected earlier demands to hand him over to the United States, dpa reported.

National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden noted that though the US has no extradition treaty with Russia, that there was "a clear legal basis" to expel Snowden because he faces legal charges and his passport has been revoked.

"Accordingly, we are asking the Russian government to take action to expel Mr Snowden without delay and to build upon the strong law enforcement cooperation we have had, particularly since the Boston Marathon bombing," she said.

She said the US agreed with Putin "that we do not want this issue to negatively impact our bilateral relations."


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