Brazil wants to question Edward Snowden

The nation wants to learn more about the spying programme that targeted them

Brazil's Federal Police and a Senate investigative panel said today they want to question National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden to learn more about the spying programme that targeted Latin America's biggest country.

According to information leaked by Snowden, President Dilma Rousseff's communications with aides were intercepted, the computer network of state-run oil company Petrobras was hacked and data on billions of emails and telephone calls flowing through Brazil were monitored by the NSA.

"For our investigation, questioning Snowden is a top priority," said Jose Alberto Freitas, the head of the intelligence sector of Brazil's Federal Police, before a Senate committee investigating the NSA spy programme.

"He could provide technical details that will help our investigation advance."

Ricardo Ferraco, who heads the committee, said that on Thursday he will ask the Russian government for permission to speak to Snowden via a video conference.

Snowden received asylum in Russia in August.

"We have to go to Snowden who is the primary source," Ferraco said, adding that if the committee is not allowed to meet with Snowden, "I doubt our investigations will move forward."

The fallout over the spy programmes led Rousseff to cancel a planned visit to the US, where she was to be the guest of honour for a state dinner.

Rousseff last month spoke at the United Nations General Assembly and called for international regulations on data privacy and limiting espionage programmes targeting the Internet.