Obama speaks with Putin on Snowden, with Saudi King on Egypt, Syria

             
President Barack Obama raised US concerns directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday over Moscow's handling of former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, but there was no sign of a breakthrough on Washington's demand that Russia expel him.    

Obama and Putin spoke by phone in a discussion that White House spokesman Jay Carney said earlier would largely be about Snowden, who is wanted in the United States for disclosing secret surveillance programs. Carney had accused Russia of providing Snowden a "propaganda platform" to air his complaints about the United States.    

A White House statement about the Obama-Putin call offered no indication that Putin was prepared to send Snowden back to the United States.                  

On another note, the White House said that President Obama has discussed the crises in Egypt and Syria with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, a Mideast powerhouse. 

Obama and Abdullah shared concerns that Syria's civil war could affect the region. The White House says Obama emphasized the US will keep supporting the rebels seeking to oust President Bashar Assad. Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Muslim states are also backing the rebels.                       

The White House says Obama told Abdullah he was concerned about violence in Egypt and the need for an inclusive, democratic process to return a civilian government. After Egypt's military toppled Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, Abdullah sent the military a congratulations message. The Gulf nation has also pledged $5 billion in post-coup aid to Egypt.


AP/REUTERS