Snowden's Great Escape-video

As the US tries to detain the whistleblower, we look at the diplomatic repercussions of tracking down Edward Snowden.

The whereabouts of whistleblower Edward Snowden remain unknown. The United States believe that he is in Russia and White House officials are demanding that the former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee be handed over. The 30-year-old intelligence analyst first sought refuge in Hong Kong and when his departure from there was not blocked, the White House warned of an "unquestionably" negative impact on US-Chinese relations. The White House believes that the countries said to be on Snowden's shortlist of destinations undermine his claim to be a champion of transparency, freedom of the press and civil rights. Snowden has been charged by the US of espionage and spying after revealing to Western newspapers how the US National Security Agency (NSA) spies on the internet and phone activities of millions of people. The programme, named PRISM, was authorised by a secret court.