Iceland says a spokesman who claims to represent Edward Snowden has held talks with government officials about the potential of the NSA leaker applying for asylum in the Nordic country.
"A representative of his has, to my knowledge... had some informal discussions with some employees of a couple of ministries, but no formal discussions," Iceland Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson said.
He said that Mr Snowden, who is holed up in Hong Kong after blowing the lid on a vast US electronic spying programme, would need to be in Iceland in order to apply for asylum.
"So since he's not in the country it's not for me to comment on presently," he said.
Interior Minister Hanna Kristjansdottir told public broadcaster RUV on Tuesday that the government had been approached by a spokesman for the WikiLeaks website, Icelandic journalist Kristinn Hrafnsson, who wanted to "discuss the matter with a representative of the ministry".
A banner showing support for Snowden in Hong Kong "He got a meeting where the matter was discussed," she said.
However, she added the government did not feel bound by a 2010 resolution by the Icelandic parliament seeking to make the country a safe haven for journalists and whistleblowers from around the globe.
"The resolution is not a part of the laws that apply to asylum seekers," she said.
In an interview with the Guardian newspaper on June 10, Mr Snowden - who has been hailed a "hero" by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange - described Iceland as a country that shared his values.
Mr Hrafnsson is an Icelandic journalist However, observers say the new centre-right coalition in Reykjavik may be less willing to anger the United States than its leftist predecessor.
Mr Snowden, 29, leaked details of the US National Security Agency's (NSA) spying programmes, which monitor private internet traffic.
US authorities have launched a criminal investigation.
The former CIA employee and NSA contractor fled to Hong Kong on May 20, but the US has yet to file any formal extradition request.
Chinese state media earlier said Hong Kong has the opportunity of "proving itself a free society in front of the world" by its handling of the Snowden case.
The editorial in the the Global Times newspaper appear to distance Beijing from any decision on his possible extradition.
Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous territory and has a separate legal system to mainland China.
The editorial also said Hong Kong - which has an extradition treaty with the US - should decide without interference from the mainland on Mr Snowden's fate.
Supporters of Snowden protest in Hong Kong "Things will go much easier if Hong Kong plays a leading role in resolving this incident, rather than being told by Beijing or Washington what to do," the editorial said.
"Hong Kong has the chance to expand its political freedom to a larger extent, setting an example for the rest of the world."
The editorial also criticised the US government, which it called "stuck in an embarrassing position", citing increasing "public sympathy" for Mr Snowden.
"Public opinion will have a large impact on Snowden's destiny," the editorial said.
"It seems that Snowden being extradited back to the US has become an inconceivable option.
"Selfishness has been pushing Washington to employ double standards in political affairs. If it doesn't readjust such policies, its international reputation will be permanently damaged."
Experts have claimed that Mr Snowden is testing Hong Kong's civil liberties under its "one country, two systems" framework by retreating to the former British colony, which was returned to China in 1997.
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