US warns countries against helping Snowden
The United States is directing threatening language at countries which don't do what they're told when it comes to handing over former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, who is on the run after leaking details of PRISM to the media.
Snowden proved that the US government is spying on its own citizens using some dodgy court orders made possible by the Bush government's Patriot Act. So far, the political establishment has said it was acting within the law, but since the initial leak, further damning evidence has come to light - including details of a British GCHQ operation to wiretap fibre-optic cables crucial to internet communications.
Snowden initially fled to Hong Kong, fearing the reaction of the US government, but has now left after his country attempted to have him extradited. Hong Kong told the United States that it would have to apply for a formal extradition according to the law, and that it wasn't legal to hand over individuals because of US pressure.
