Snowden: No plan to exit Russia

The Obama administration has made its desire to see whistleblower Edward Snowden returned to the US "clear" to Russia, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

He said Snowden "is neither a human rights activist, nor a dissident" and should return to the US to face espionage charges.

"He's been charged with serious felonies for the unauthorised leaking of highly classified information, and there is ample precedent and legal justification for him to be returned to the United States", Carney added.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has called Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov to reiterate his belief that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden "needs to be returned to the United States, where he will have a fair trial".

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Kerry told his counterpart that Russia "still has the ability to do the right thing".

Kerry also reiterated that the US would be "deeply disappointed" if Russia made any effort to facilitate Snowden's movement out of the airport, or to any destination other than the US.

"Obviously any move that would allow Mr. Snowden to depart the airport would be deeply disappointing," Psaki added.

Read: Snowden: No plans to exit Russia

The White House said it is "seeking clarification" from Russian authorities about the status of former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is not planning to leave Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport "for now", his lawyer has said.

After meeting Snowden, Anatoly Kucherena told Rossiya 24 news channel:

National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden has "no immediate plans" to leave Russia, his lawyer has told Russian television.

Russia is his "final destination", Anatoly Kucherena added.

Edward Snowden's lawyer says the US intelligence leaker has not yet received a pass allowing him to leave Moscow airport, Reuters have reported.

This is contrary to earlier reports that Snowden had been given documentation allowing him to travel.

Edward Snowden's lawyer says the American fugitive will stay in Moscow airport's transit zone for now, Reuters have reported.

Edward Snowden could shortly leave Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, after being handed travel documents by his lawyer from Russia's Immigration Service, Reuters reports.

Earlier, Russia's state news agency said the ex-CIA analyst, whose extradition is being sought by Washington for intelligence leaks, had been granted permission to enter the country.

Snowden's lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, declined to comment as he arrived at the airport.

But an airport source told Reuters: "The documents have been handed over."

Any decision to grant Edward Snowden leave to enter Russia, is likely to further strain relations with the US, who want the whistleblower extradited over secret intelligence leaks.

Russia has refused to extradite Snowden and a decision on his temporary asylum request could take up to three months.

Edward Snowdon is reportedly getting ready to leave a Moscow airport after being granted permission to enter Russia, according to Russia Today.

The American's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena will reportedly bring necessary papers to the airport and he will be also be given new clothes.

Lindsay France, who is reporting from the airport said: "When he gets those documents in his hands, he will.... be able to go freely about the Russian Federation".

Snowden has been stranded in the transit area of Sheremetyevo airport since he flew in from Hong Kong, last month.