Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino isn't saying what his country's response will be to a request for asylum by former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish/English) ECUADOR FOREIGN MINISTER RICARDO PATINO SPEAKING IN SPANISH WITH TRANSLATION IN ENGLISH, SAYING:

"Let us end speculation, we will make the decision in time. We are analysing it with a lot of responsibility and taking good care of it. Because it has to do with the freedom of expression, with the security of citizens around the world, we have to analyse it deeply and also in confidence.".

Snowden, who exposed secret U.S. surveillance programmes, flew from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday despite Washington's calls for his arrest.

A Hong Kong lawyer representing Snowden says he was told to go.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG LEGISLATOR, ALBERT HO, SAYING:

"The information was passed to Snowden through this middle person that he was asked to leave Hong Kong and