India turns down Snowden's asylum request

New Delhi, July 2: India Tuesday said it had declined the asylum request of fugitive former CIA agent Edward Snowden who blew the whistle on US data mining.

"I can confirm that earlier today our embassy in Moscow did receive a communication dated June 30 from Mr Edward Snowden. That communication did contain a request for asylum," said India's external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

"We have carefully examined the request. Following that examination, we have concluded that we see no reason to accede to the request," he said.

IANS