Venezuela Grants Asylum to Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden, a former CIA employee is the person behind the latest security leak in the US. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has officially stated his country is granting political asylum to former CIA agent Edward Snowden.

Snowden is wanted for disclosing classified information and has spent two weeks now in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport, waiting for an asylum invitation to be issued.

Friday it was announced that Iceland and France have turned down his application.

"In the name of America's dignity ... I have decided to offer humanitaria asylum to Edward Snowden," Venezuelan President Maduro told a military parade marking Venezuela's independence day, July 5.

"He is a young man who has told the truth, in the spirit of rebellion, about the United States spying on the whole world," added Maduro.

Earlier Nicaragua also stated it is ready to welcome Snowden.