LONDON (AP) - An Icelandic business executive says a private plane is on standby to transport NSA secrets leaker Edward Snowden from Hong Kong to Iceland.

Mr Olafur Vignir Sigurvinsson said on Friday that while he has not spoken directly with Mr Edward Snowden, he has been in touch with a third party representing him. The businessman has connections to the WikiLeaks secret-spilling organisation.

Mr Sigurvinsson says he has access to planes in Hong Kong and mainland China.

But Iceland's government says it has not received an asylum request from Mr Snowden, who has revealed his role in providing secret US National Security Agency documents.

Interior Ministry spokesman Johannes Tomasson says Mr Snowden hasn't approached the ministry and an asylum request could only begin if Mr Snowden is in Iceland.

US officials have expressed an interest in prosecuting Mr Snowden.