Snowden Will Help Brazil Probe In Exchange For Asylum

Edward Snowden

Fugitive intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has said he would be willing to help Brazil investigate spying by the U.S. National Security Agency on its soil, but only if he is first granted political asylum.

In an "open letter" obtained by the Associated Press, Snowden says he could not fully participate without such asylum because the U.S. government "will continue to interfere with my ability to speak."

In the letter, Snowden commends the Brazilian government for its strong stand against U.S. spying.

Secret documents leaked by Snowden revealed the NSA had monitored President Dilma Rousseff's phone, among other revelations.

Rousseff subsequently canceled an official visit to Washington.

In the letter, Snowden says he's been inspired by the global debate ignited by his actions and that the NSA's culture of indiscriminate global espionage "is collapsing."

Based on reporting by AP