Private plane on standby to fly Edward Snowden to Iceland

A private plane is on standby to transport NSA secrets leaker Edward Snowden from Hong Kong to Iceland, an Icelandic business executive says.

Olafur Vignir Sigurvinsson said that while he has not spoken directly to Mr Snowden, he has been in touch with a third party representing him. The businessman has connections to the WikiLeaks secret-spilling organisation.

Mr Sigurvinsson says he has access to planes in Hong Kong and mainland China.

But Iceland’s government says it has not received an asylum request from Mr Snowden, who has revealed his role in providing secret US National Security Agency documents.

Interior Ministry spokesman Johannes Tomasson says Mr Snowden hasn’t approached the ministry and an asylum request could only begin if he is in Iceland.

US officials have expressed an interest in prosecuting Mr Snowden.