Ecuador Denies Authorizing 'Safe Passage' to Snowden

Ecuador on Thursday denied ever authorizing a "safe passage" travel document to U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden and said it would not be able to process his political asylum request until he enters Ecuadoran territory.

"We confirm that the government of Ecuador has not authorized the delivery of any safe passage or refugee document that would allow Mr. Snowden to travel to our country," Political Issues Minister Betty Tola told reporters.

Tola added that Ecuador has not been able to process the U.S. fugitive's asylum request "because the petitioner is not in Ecuadoran territory as the law mandates."

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, whose anti-secrecy website has assisted Snowden, said on Monday that Ecuador had given Snowden a "refugee document of passage" that would allow him to travel here.

The U.S. Spanish-language television network Univision published on its website a "safepass" document with the letterhead of Quito's consulate in London, asking authorities in transit countries to "give the appropriate help" as the bearer travels to Ecuador.

Assange has himself been sheltered by Ecuador in the Andean nation's London embassy, enabling him to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces sexual assault allegations.

The United States revoked Snowden's passport after he revealed a massive U.S. surveillance program and the former National Security Agency contractor has been holed up in a Moscow airport since arriving there from Hong Kong on Sunday.

Earlier on Thursday, reports said Ecuador had waived preferential rights granted under a trade agreement with the United States, in a show of independence as it considers asylum for Snowden.

"Ecuador unilaterally and irrevocably renounces these preferential customs tariff rights," Communications Minister Fernando Alvarado, said, reading from a government statement.

"Ecuador does not accept pressure or threats from anyone, and does not trade on principles or make them contingent on commercial interests, even if those interests are important ."

The government of leftist President Rafael Correa said that while it had received the preferential rights in exchange for its cooperation in the war on drugs, they had become a "new instrument of blackmail."

The 30-year-old Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who embarrassed the government of U.S. President Barack Obama by revealing details of vast Internet and phone surveillance programs, has requested asylum from Ecuador.

Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino has said it could take weeks to decide whether to grant asylum to Snowden, who remained Thursday in the transit area of a Moscow airport after fleeing Hong Kong.