Brazil May Seek to Speak With Snowden as Spy Allegations Spread

By Joshua Goodman & Mario Sergio Lima

Brazil’s government said it may contact fugitive former security contractor Edward Snowden as it probes allegations the U.S. monitored phone calls and e-mail in Latin America’s largest economy.

“Mr. Snowden’s participation in an investigation is absolutely relevant and pertinent,” Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said in Senate testimony to discuss allegations that were first reported by O Globo newspaper last week. “I don’t rule out the hypothesis of seeking out contact with Mr. Snowden, something that doesn’t need to be carried out on Brazilian territory. It can be done another way.”

Patriota told lawmakers that as far as he knows the former defense contractor has accepted Venezuela’s asylum offer and that the logistics of his travel are being worked out with Russia. He didn’t provide further details. Snowden has been holed up in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow since arriving June 23 from Hong Kong.

Patriota’s interest in speaking to Snowden comes as governments across Latin America, even those with close ties to the U.S. such as Colombia and Mexico, demand explanations about the extent of American surveillance activities in the region.

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-10/brazil-may-seek-to-speak-with-snowden-as-spy-allegations-spread.html

Brazilian Senators Support Snowden; Government Says It Won't Offer Asylum

By Paulo Trevisani

BRASILIA--A Brazilian Senate committee voted Tuesday to support U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, even as the government reaffirmed its decision not to offer him asylum.

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News that the U.S. National Security Agency for years monitored phone and Internet logs of Brazilian citizens broke over the weekend and unleashed a series of angry demands for explanations.

U.S. and Brazilian officials say clarifications will be made through diplomatic channels. A spokesman for Brazil's Foreign Affairs ministry said no official explanation had been offered by the U.S. as of Tuesday afternoon.

Although Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Patriota reaffirmed Tuesday that Brazil won't give asylum to Mr. Snowden, the non-binding Senate support was based on some senator's view that the American had "important information for our country's safety," said senator Randolfe Rodrigues...The Foreign-Affairs ministry spokesman said that the alleged espionage doesn't affect Brazil's decision not to offer Mr. Snowden asylum.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130709-708164.html?mod=googlenews_wsj