NewSnowden seeks Russia's protection over 'threats to his life', lawyer says

Edward Snowden is appealing to Russia’s local government for protection after receiving threats against his life, his lawyer said, just days after an online article quoted American defence officials as saying they "wanted him dead" or "would love to put a bullet in his head".

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Published: 1:00am, 22 Jan 2014Updated: 9:54am, 22 Jan 2014

Edward Snowden is appealing to Russia’s local government for protection after receiving threats against his life, his lawyer said, just days after an online article quoted American defence officials as saying they "wanted him dead" or "would love to put a bullet in his head".

“He has no other option but to seek protection and ask for the situation to be cleared up,” Anatoly Kucherena told Bloomberg on Wednesday. “There are worries and alarm about statements and actions on the part of some officials.”

The report said Kucherena indicated that Snowden was receiving private protection.

The fugitive US intelligence leaker has feared for his life since reading of explicit threats against him by unnamed Pentagon officials in a Buzzfeed.com article titled "American Spies Want Edward Snowden Dead".

The article quoted one Pentagon official as saying: "I would love to put a bullet in his head."

"In a world where I would not be restricted from killing an American, I personally would go and kill him myself," an NSA analyst was further quoted.