Clinton: Snowden should return to US

Hillary Clinton says NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden should return to the US and face charges levied against him by the US government.

Hillary Clinton says American whistleblower and former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden should return to the US if he is serious in engaging in debate about US spying programs.

In a video interview with the British newspaper The Guardian on Friday, Clinton also said that Snowden, who disclosed thousands of classified NSA documents, should be able to defend himself if he returns to the United States.

Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia where he's been living since last June. He faces charges of espionage and theft of government property in the US.

"Whether he chooses to return or not is up to him. He certainly can stay in Russia, apparently under [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's protection, for the rest of his life if that's what he chooses, Clinton said.

But if he is serious about engaging in the debate then he could take the opportunity to come back and have that debate. But that's his decision," she added.

Snowdens disclosures have led to global uproar surrounding US government surveillance on the world's population.

Clinton a former US Secretary of State, US senator and the wife of former US President Bill Clinton is expected to run for the White House in 2016. She ran in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, narrowly losing the nomination to President Barack Obama.

Clinton, who is on a two-day tour of Britain promoting her new memoir Hard Choices an account of her four years as secretary of state said she had not yet decided whether or not she intends to run for the US presidency in 2016.

AHT/ISH

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Clinton: Snowden should return to US