Fugitive US intelligence analyst Edward Snowden has met human rights groups and lawyers at a Moscow airport, in his first appearance in three weeks.

In a statement, Mr Snowden said he was requesting asylum in Russia because he was unable to travel to Latin America, where Venezuela had granted him asylum.

However, speaking ahead of the meeting, Russian lawmaker Vyacheslav Nikonov, described Snowden as "a hot potato".

"No one wants Snowden and he is also a hot potato for the United States - they want him back", he told the BBC's Steven Rosenberg.

"Before his requests are processed there is no way anyone can extradite him," he added.