Pardon for former NSA contractor Snowden seen unlikely

American whistleblower Edward Snowden is seen on a screen as he delivers a speech during the Roskilde Festival in Roskilde, Denmark, June 28 2016. Scanpix Denmark/Mathias Loevgreen Bojesen /via REUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government will not budge on its demand that former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden return to face prosecution for stealing thousands of classified intelligence documents, despite new calls for President Barack Obama to pardon him, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

The officials said they expect Snowden's supporters to use the Thursday release of "Snowden" - directed by veteran filmmaker Oliver Stone - to mount a public campaign demanding a pardon before Obama leaves office in January.