Russian immigration officials say they have not received an application from Edward Snowden, the US National Security Agency leaker who wants to get asylum in Russia.

The man who leaked US National Security Agency secrets is to meet a Russian official from Amnesty International, the group said.

A US embassy employee accused of spying and ordered to leave Russia has flown out of Moscow, it is reported.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has sacked Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov, who held the post for 18 years, the Kremlin said today.

An Australian passenger was detained by Russian security officers after threatening to blow up a plane on a Tokyo-Moscow flight, the Australian Embassy in Moscow said today.