The United States was tracking Edward Snowden on Sunday as the former NSA computer technician facing US espionage charges arrived in Moscow en route for an undisclosed destination.
Snowden, who leaked secret details of vast US telephone and Web surveillance programs to media outlets, left Hong Kong despite a US extradition request and the US authorities will "pursue relevant law enforcement cooperation with other countries where" he may travel, the US Justice Department said.
"The chase is on," California Senator Dianne Feinstein said as the Snowden affair grew vastly more complicated for President Barack Obama, potentially testing US relations with Russia and other nations.
"And we'll have to see what happens," she said.
Feinstein, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said she has learned Snowden may have more material to leak -- "over 200 separate items" -- but how much is not certain.
"I think we need to know exactly what he has. He could have a lot, lot more. It may really put people in jeopardy. I don't know," she told CBS.
According to WikiLeaks, unidentified diplomats and Wikileaks legal advisers are escorting Snowden, 30, a former employee of National Security Agency contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, in his bid to secure political asylum in a country yet to be disclosed.
US authorities filed espionage charges against Snowden last week and asked Hong Kong, where he first fled, to detain him on a provisional arrest warrant.
But Snowden boarded an Aeroflot flight for Moscow on Sunday amid Russian media reports that he would fly to Cuba and eventually Venezuela.
Snowden left his home in Hawaii on May 20 and flew to Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory, from where he proceeded to leak details of the secret US intelligence programs to the Guardian and The Washington Post.
The leaks have embarrassed Obama's administration, which was forced to defend US intelligence agencies' practice of gathering huge amounts of telephone and Internet data from private users around the world.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer expressed disappointment on Sunday with Hong Kong for allowing Snowden to leave and with Russia for letting him go there.
Schumer said it was "very disappointing what Hong Kong has done" and it "remains to be seen how much influence Beijing had on Hong Kong.
"I have a feeling the hand of Beijing was involved here," he told CNN.
"What's infuriating here is Prime Minister (Vladimir) Putin of Russia aiding and abetting Snowden's escape," Schumer added. "Putin always seems almost eager to put a finger in the eye of the United States, whether it is Syria, Iran and now, of course, with Snowden.
"That's not how allies should treat one another, and I think it'll have serious consequences for the United States-Russia relationship," he said.
Schumer said he expected the US authorities would ask Russia to hold Snowden. "Whether Russia does that or not, I don't know," he said.
NSA chief Keith Alexander said meanwhile that Snowden's blowing the lid on US surveillance has forced a tightening of security on IT system operators like him.
The NSA is overhauling its operations to keep a closer watch on contractors like Snowden, who "betrayed the trust and confidence we had in him" and "stole some of our secrets," General Alexander told ABC television.
No red flags went up to detect that theft, Alexander said, and the NSA is working to overhaul things to prevent a repeat.
"Clearly, the system did not work as it should have," he said.
"We are now putting in place actions that would give us the ability to track our system administrators, what they're doing, what they're taking," he said.
Also, "we've changed the passwords," Alexander said. "But at the end of the day we have to trust that our people are going to do the right thing."
The NSA chief also repeated assertions that the ultimate goal of the surveillance programs is to prevent terrorist attacks and that some 50 plots around the world had been foiled so far thanks to the programs.
"What Snowden has revealed has caused irreversible and significant damage to our country and to our allies," Alexander said. "This is an individual who is not acting, in my opinion, with noble intent."
AFP
Sun Jun 23 2013
![US wants cooperation of countries where Snowden may go US wants cooperation of countries where Snowden may go](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-06/81370908005_295x200.jpg)
AWANI Ringkas: Menambah baik sistem pakar perubatan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI Ringkas: Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Hamidin terkilan Pan-gon letak jawatan Hamidin terkilan Pan-gon letak jawatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41714696494_HamidinMohdAminK.jpg)
Hamidin terkilan Pan-gon letak jawatan
Ini kerana Pan-gon, yang mula mengemudi skuad kebangsaan sejak 2022, sebelum ini dengan penuh komited menyatakan mahu terus mengendalikan Harimau Malaya sehingga tamat kontraknya pada Disember 2025.
AWANI Borneo [17/07/2024] - Kebakaran awal pagi | 1.3 juta tenaga buruh | 829.4 kilometer
Awani Borneo 17 Julai 2024 bersama Jasmine Abu Bakar;
1. Wanita melecur, lapan rumah musnah dalam kebakaran di Tawau
2. 60 peratus tenaga buruh di Sabah belum berdaftar dengan KWSP
3. RM32.8 juta setahun diperuntukkan bagi penyelenggaraan Pan Borneo
1. Wanita melecur, lapan rumah musnah dalam kebakaran di Tawau
2. 60 peratus tenaga buruh di Sabah belum berdaftar dengan KWSP
3. RM32.8 juta setahun diperuntukkan bagi penyelenggaraan Pan Borneo
RM32.8 juta setahun selenggara rutin Lebuh Raya Pan-Borneo
Kementerian akan memperuntukkan sebanyak RM32.8 juta setahun bagi pelaksanaan penyenggaraan rutin di Lebuh Raya Pan-Borneo secara berperingkat mengikut serahan bagi penyenggaraan selepas kontrak projek siap sepenuhnya.
38 peratus isi rumah miskin tegar di Sabah
Rafizi menambah pendapatan Garis Kemiskinan (PGK) Makanan di Sabah juga lebih tinggi iaitu RM1,218 sebulan berbanding kadar nasional sebanyak RM1,198.
![Muhammad Adi disangka hilang, menginap di rumah kawan Muhammad Adi disangka hilang, menginap di rumah kawan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721115027_MuhammadAdiLagik.jpg)
Muhammad Adi disangka hilang, menginap di rumah kawan
Seorang remaja lelaki berusia 17 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang sejak tujuh hari lepas telah pulang ke rumahnya di Ampangan Tinggi malam tadi.
Pemenang Jutawan BSN derma 10 peratus kepada gereja
Rezeki tiga bulan menabung di Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) berbekalkan modal 10 ribu ringgit telah menukar hidup seorang paderi kepada seorang jutawan.
RM468.7 juta projek infrastruktur basmi kemiskinan di Sabah
Rafizi berkata peruntukan sebanyak RM468.7 juta bagi 2024 telah diwujudkan bagi projek-projek infrastruktur dalam usaha mengurangkan jurang kemiskinan di lapan daerah tersebut.
60 peratus tenaga buruh di Sabah belum berdaftar dengan KWSP
Sebanyak 60 peratus atau 1.3 juta daripada 2.3 tenaga buruh di Sabah belum berdaftar sebagai ahli Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) dan berisiko tidak memiliki simpanan untuk persaraan.
![Edward Snowden dapat pasport Rusia Edward Snowden dapat pasport Rusia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/81664236498_EdwardSnowden.jpg)
Edward Snowden dapat pasport Rusia
Edward Snowden bakal menghadapi tuduhan pengintipan dan berdepan hukuman 30 tahun penjara di Amerika Syarikat jika dia kembali.
![Edward Snowden diberi kerakyatan Rusia Edward Snowden diberi kerakyatan Rusia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/81664236498_EdwardSnowden.jpg)
Edward Snowden diberi kerakyatan Rusia
Snowden hidup dalam buangan di Rusia sejak mendedahkan program NASA yang menjejaskan jutaan rakyat pada 2013.
![Wanita maut dihempap tingkap hotel tertanggal Wanita maut dihempap tingkap hotel tertanggal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-01/41548060350_hongkongmaut.jpg)
Wanita maut dihempap tingkap hotel tertanggal
Tiba di Hong Kong pada pagi, maut pada tengah hari.
![Edward Snowden sertai Twitter, hanya ikut akaun NSA Edward Snowden sertai Twitter, hanya ikut akaun NSA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-10/51443707733_EdwardSnowden.jpg)
Edward Snowden sertai Twitter, hanya ikut akaun NSA
Snowden merupakan individu kontroversi yang menjadi buruan polis ekoran pembocoran maklumat rahsia kerajaan Amerika Syarikat.
![Oliver Stone akan arah filem Edward Snowden Oliver Stone akan arah filem Edward Snowden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-06/81370908005_295x200.jpg)
Oliver Stone akan arah filem Edward Snowden
Ia akan dibikin berdasarkan sebuah buku yang ditulis oleh seorang wartawan Britain mengenai Edward Snowden yang hidup dalam pelarian.
![Kerajaan terus pantau isu intipan asing -- Shahidan Kerajaan terus pantau isu intipan asing -- Shahidan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-10/61382369511_295x200.jpg)
Kerajaan terus pantau isu intipan asing -- Shahidan
Katanya Malaysia menolak sebarang bentuk pengintipan oleh mana-mana pihak kerana perbuatan itu menjejaskan kedaulatan negara dan hubungan dua hala.
![Pengintip UK, AS simpan berjuta-juta imej kamera web Yahoo: laporan Pengintip UK, AS simpan berjuta-juta imej kamera web Yahoo: laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-02/81393561985_295x200.jpg)
Pengintip UK, AS simpan berjuta-juta imej kamera web Yahoo: laporan
Program 'Optic Nerve' mengumpul dan menyimpan imej-imej perbualan kamera web tanpa mengira samada mereka adalah suspek atau tidak.
![Obama janji henti kawalan data telefon ratusan juta penduduk Obama janji henti kawalan data telefon ratusan juta penduduk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2012-10/41351480584_120x90.jpg)
Obama janji henti kawalan data telefon ratusan juta penduduk
Obama turut janji perlindungan bagi komunikasi warga asing dan arahan serta merta kepada agensi risikan bagi mendapatkan perintah mahkamah sebelum mengakses data sulit individu.
![PM: M'sia menentang kegiatan pengintipan terhadap mana-mana kerajaan PM: M'sia menentang kegiatan pengintipan terhadap mana-mana kerajaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-06/81370908005_295x200.jpg)
PM: M'sia menentang kegiatan pengintipan terhadap mana-mana kerajaan
Malaysia telah menghantar nota bantahan kepada pejabat Kedutaan Amerika Syarikat dan Suruhanjaya Tinggi Australia berhubung dakwaan pengintipan dilakukan di negara ini.
![Snowden terima suaka politik dari Venezuela - Rusia Snowden terima suaka politik dari Venezuela - Rusia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-06/81370908005_295x200.jpg)
Snowden terima suaka politik dari Venezuela - Rusia
Kesahihan berita itu dipertikai apabila maklumat yang diterbitkan menerusi Twitter itu dipadam. Ia juga turut dinafi oleh Wikileaks.