Russia criticized France, Spain and Portugal on Thursday for delaying the Bolivian president's flight home from Moscow this week over suspicions that former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden was on his plane.

"The actions of the authorities of France, Spain and Portugal could hardly be considered friendly actions towards Bolivia," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website.

"Russia calls on the international community to comply strictly with international legal principles," it said.

Morales had been attending a summit of natural gas exporters in Moscow, where Russian officials say Snowden has been in an airport transit area since flying in from Hong Kong on June 23, hoping to be granted political asylum in a third country.

Reuters