No traitor or hero,I am just an American,says Snowden

It said Snowden,who has been both praised and condemned for releasing documents about phone and Internet surveillance programmes,said he was “neither a traitor nor hero. I’m an American.’’

Asked about his choice of Hong Kong to leak the information,Snowden said,“People who think I made a mistake in picking Hong Kong as a location misunderstand my intentions. I am not here to hide from justice; I am here to reveal criminality.’’

The newspaper quoted him as saying that he had several opportunities to flee from Hong Kong,but he “would rather stay and fight the US government in the courts,because I have faith in Hong Kong’s rule of law.’’ “My intention is to ask the courts and people of Hong Kong to decide my fate,’’ he said.

Snowden said he plans to stay in the city until he is “asked to leave,’’ the newspaper said.

He said he had not dared contact his family or girlfriend since disclosing that he was the source of the top-secret documents. “I have not spoken to any of my family,’’ he told the newspaper. “I am worried about the pressure they are feeling from the FBI.’’

Two FBI agents visited Snowden’s father’s home in Pennsylvania on Monday.

Supporters of Snowden,meanwhile, have organised a march on Saturday that will pass in front of the US Consulate in Hong Kong.