Edward Snowden, the former US intelligence contractor who leaked classified documents revealing US internet and phone surveillance, has asked Ecuador for asylum.
The request was confirmed by Ecuador's foreign minister on Twitter.
Mr Snowden had fled the US for Hong Kong but flew out on Sunday morning and is currently in Moscow.
A US extradition request to Hong Kong failed but Washington insists he should now be denied international travel.
The US justice department has called Hong Kong's decision not to arrest Mr Snowden "troubling".
On Sunday, a US official said Washington had contacted "Western Hemisphere" nations that Mr Snowden might travel to, or through.
"The US is advising these governments that Snowden is wanted on felony charges, and as such should not be allowed to proceed in any further international travel, other than is necessary to return him to the United States," the state department official said.
Earlier, Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, who is in Vietnam,said on Twitter: "The Government of Ecuador has received an asylum request from Edward J. #Snowden."
The anti-secrecy group said Mr Snowden's asylum request would be formally processed when he arrived in Ecuador.
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