Snowden's father thanks Russia for temporary asylum

The father of fugitive agent Edward Snowden has thanked Russia for granting him temporary asylum.

Lon Snowden said he thinks President Vladmir Putin will stand firm - despite the U.S. cancelling a summit with President Obama.

He also said he is grateful his son turned whistleblower.

"As an American citizen I am thankful for what he did, as a father I am conflicted because I love my son," he said.

"I wish he wasn't sitting in Russia and I wish he could still be sitting in Hawaii making the big pay check with his girlfriend living happily but that is selfish."