France, Portugal reject Morales plane, fearing Snowden is on board

France and Portugal have refused to let the plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales cross their airspace fearing the fugitive American intelligence leaker Edward Snowden might be on board.

A Tuesday statement by Bolivian Defense Minister Ruben Saavedra called the rerouting a “hostile act” by the US government.

“This is a hostile act by the United States State Department which has used various European governments,” the statement read.

In an interview with the CNN, he said rumors about Snowden’s presence in the aircraft had been made by the US.

“This is a lie, a falsehood,” he said. “It was generated by the US government.”
Bolivia’s Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca described the reports that Snowden was on board as a “huge lie.”

The plane was allowed to land in Spain for refueling but was later forced to land in Austria.

An Austrian foreign ministry official confirmed early Wednesday that the Bolivian president has arrived at Vienna airport, adding Snowden was not in the plane.