The Guardian reports: The American whistleblower Edward Snowden has accused the US of waging a campaign of “historically disproportionate aggression” against him during an extraordinary meeting with human rights activists and Russian officials at the Moscow airport where he has been trapped since 23 June.

In his first appearance since disclosing his identity in the Guardian last month, Snowden insisted he had no regrets and had made a “moral decision” to leak dozens of secret documents outlining US surveillance programmes. He also announced that he would apply for political asylum from the Kremlin and appealed to those present for help in leaving the airport.

The US has lobbied governments around the world to refuse entry to Snowden and has invalidated his US passport.

Last week, a plane carrying the Bolivian president, Evo Morales, was grounded in Vienna after several European countries blocked their airspace amid suspicions that Snowden was on board.

“The government and intelligence services of the United States of America have attempted to make an example of me, a warning to all others who might speak out as I have,” Snowden said. “I have been made stateless and hounded for my act of political expression.” [Continue reading…]