Even in limbo, NSA leaker Edward Snowden is creating new diplomatic headaches for the United States.
Bolivian President Evo Morales threatened yesterday that his country would shut down the American Embassy in La Paz after his plane from Moscow was refused landing rights earlier this week by four different European countries responding to rumors that Snowden might have been aboard.
The rumors turned out to be untrue, leading Morales to denounce the United States for allegedly instigating the snubs by France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
Snowden has been stranded in Moscow’s main airport for days, searching for a country that would shield him from the clutches of US justice.
Late yesterday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro offered the NSA leaker asylum — and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said he would consider it.
“In the name of America’s dignity . . . I have decided to offer humanitarian asylum to Edward Snowden,” Maduro told a televised military parade.
He added, “[Snowden] has told the truth, in the spirit of rebellion, about the US spying on the whole world.”
Ortega noted Nicaragua would welcome Snowden under the right circumstances — but did not elaborate on those conditions.
“We are an open country, respectful of the right of asylum, and it’s clear that if circumstances permit, we would gladly receive Snowden and give him asylum in Nicaragua,” Ortega said.
The Web site WikiLeaks said Snowden had applied for asylum to six additional countries after getting turned down or no reply from more than 20 nations around the world.
The six new countries were not identified.