Snowden leaving airport in 'few days'

Fugitive American intelligence leaker Edward Snowden is likely to leave the transit zone in Moscow's airport, where he's been holed up for weeks, "in the next few days," his lawyer said Wednesday, according to CNN.

Snowden applied for temporary asylum in Russia on Tuesday from Sheremetyevo International Airport.

He "will leave (the airport) in the next few days because some legal papers are still required to be formalized," Russian attorney Anatoly Kucherena said in Moscow.

"Therefore, I think this issue will be resolved within a week and after this, the question of granting him temporary asylum will be decided upon."

A former National Security Agency contractor, Snowden admittedly leaked documents to the media that exposed sweeping U.S. electronic surveillance programs. He faces espionage charges.

Kucharena, who helped Snowden file his application for asylum, said his client might be able to leave the airport while the request is considered.

It's not clear whether Russia will decide to grant temporary asylum. Snowden has said he wants to stay while awaiting passage to Latin America.