Edward Snowden asylum: Bolivian president's plane diverted - live coverage

Oh wow, this sounds very significant. Looks like the US is trying to show the world that nobody exposes shady government tactics and lives.

That&#x27;s such a weird request. What, Portugal or France were going to shoot down the Bolivian president&#x27;s plane if it didn&#x27;t comply? Yeah, ok.<p>I find it odd that this was demanded, and also odd that it then happened. Anyone have insight on either of these counts?<p>EDIT: Portugal

Ohhh I get it. Very clever, Wikileaks!<p>Certain countries, I believe Switzerland is one, require for asylum some <i>proof</i> that your home country&#x2F;maybe certain other countries can&#x27;t protect you.<p>This was a show of proof. They knew somebody would take the bait.

There&#x27;s no confirmation yet of Snowden being on board, however wikileaks has offered this cryptic tweet:<p>&quot;The reported actions of France, Portugal and Spain this night will live in infamy.&quot;<p>Source: <a href="http://thegrandsignal.com/edward-snowden-supposedly-stranded-in-austria-bbc-denies/" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;thegrandsignal.com&#x2F;edward-snowden-supposedly-stranded...</a>

Hopefully Morales&#x27; plane was just a diversion and there&#x27;s another plane with Snowden on it on its way somewhere else...

Latest update:<p>less than 1m ago Snowden is not on the plane, AFP reports AFP are reporting that Austrian foreign ministry officials have confirmed Edward Snowden is not on the plane.<p>The report continues:<p>&quot;President Morales will leave early Wednesday morning for La Paz,&quot; the Bolivian capital, ministry spokesman Alexander Schallenberg told AFP. Austria did not know why Morales&#x27;s plane had landed there, he added.

Ah, so much passive voice! <i>Who</i> forced the plane to be re-routed?

Ex-pat in Bolivia here. People here are _pissed_ at this abuse. I wish Snowden does make his way here to Bolivia and hides in the jungle. Good luck finding him.

An interesting choice if he were seeking to flee (&#x2F;defect, perhaps) to Bolivia, as they have an extradition treaty with the United States [1].<p>It&#x27;s bilateral, but I wonder if the Bolivians would keep him after the US refused to send them their former coca-growing president [2].<p>[1] <a href="http://www.oas.org/juridico/mla/en/traites/en_traites-ext-usa-bol.pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.oas.org&#x2F;juridico&#x2F;mla&#x2F;en&#x2F;traites&#x2F;en_traites-ext-us...</a> [PDF]<p>[2] <a href="http://shadow.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/09/12/why_did_the_obama_administration_deny_bolivia_s_extradition_request" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;shadow.foreignpolicy.com&#x2F;posts&#x2F;2012&#x2F;09&#x2F;12&#x2F;why_did_the...</a>

Clearly of no significance, but after reading Snowden&#x27;s statement last night, I decided to research notable examples of stateless persons and found this guy: <a href="https://twitter.com/mikegogulski/status/352040771853099008" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;twitter.com&#x2F;mikegogulski&#x2F;status&#x2F;352040771853099008</a>

Interesting to see that France and Portugal are willing to risk their diplomatic relations with South America for getting Snowden. I would not have expected that. I would guess people and politicians in Bolivia are quite pissed right now.

The Guardian&#x27;s &quot;live blog&quot; is the first place to look when Snowden news blows up.<p>NYT&#x27;s The Lede Blog is also excellent (currently blogging Egypt news).<p><a href="http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;thelede.blogs.nytimes.com&#x2F;</a>

No Snowden on board? Hiding in the smuggler cargo bays, perhaps?

I am ashamed to be French.

If not on the plane, then exactly where ARE Butch and Sundance? I have to know!