President Barack Obama Friday called Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the Snowden issue as news of him agreeing to Russia's conditions for asylum emerged.

Edward Snowden met with human rights groups and lawyers at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport to discuss his agreement of the conditions put by Russia for a temporary asylum in Russia. President Putin offered asylum  on the condition that he would stop all further leakage of reports of secret surveillance by the United States.

The White house has not offered any details about what was discussed in the phone call  but it is understood that the two talked about the American whistleblower, who is marooned in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since his flight from Hong Kong, following an arrest warrant issued by the Washington government on charges of espionage and theft of government property.

"Our position on Mr. Snowden and the felony charges against him and our belief that he ought to be returned to the United States to face those felony charges is as it was, and we have communicated it to a variety of countries, including Russia," said White House spokesman Jay Carney at a regular press briefing.

"We continue to discuss with Russia our strongly held view that there is absolute legal justification for him to be expelled, for him to be returned to the United States to face the charges that have been brought against him for the unauthorized leaking of classified information," added Jay Carney.

Tanya Lokshina of Human Rights Watch's Moscow bureau, was among the nine people including the Russian ombudsman, an MP, and representatives of other rights groups, who attended the 45-minute closed-door meeting with the American whistleblower. Lokshina told the media that Snowden was considering formally requesting for a temporary asylum in Russia.

"Snowden said that he did not find the condition problematic because Putin said he would be ready to give him asylum in the case that he stopped damaging Russia's partners," The Telegraph quoted Tanya Lokshina as saying.

 "And in his [Snowden's] perception whatever he has done and is planning to do does not harm the United States. He stressed that he did not want to do harm, that he wanted the US to succeed and do well," said Lokshina.

Several Latin American countries including Venezuela have offered asylum to the American fugitive but since his passport has been rebuked, he fears European countries might not allow him to cross their airspace under pressure from the U.S. government.

He was seeking temporary asylum in Russia as a stopover to a Latin American country as his final destination.

Lokshina revealed that among several other media calls she had received a phone call from the U.S. embassy in Moscow, asking her to tell Snowden that "he's no whistleblower that he broke the law and should be held accountable".

The deputy director also said that she received the meeting-invitation from the American fugitive thorough an email. Click here to see the full-narrative account of Tanya's meeting with Edward Snowden.