Evo wants an apology from the Spanish king.

By Raquel Castillo

MADRID, July 9 (Reuters) Spain is prepared to apologize to the Bolivian president for the events that delayed his flight, the Spanish Foreign Minister said on Tuesday, but he again denied that the plane was banned from the country's airspace because it was believed that US fugitive Edward Snowden was on board.

Bolivia has accused Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy of closing their airspace to President Evo Morales' plane after receiving information that he would be transporting Snowden—a former secret agent working for a US-contracted company—from Moscow to Bolivia.

"If there was any misunderstanding, I have no objection to apologizing to President Morales," said Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo, who reiterated Spain's denial that it had closed its airspace to Morales' flight.

"Spain has authorized transit through its airspace. It granted permission based on the word of the Bolivian Foreign Minister," declared García-Margallo.

"We believe in the word of our allies and friends."

On Sunday, Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca stated that García-Margallo had told him he had been informed that Snowden was on Morales' plane.

According to Choquehuanca, before reinstating the overflight permit, García-Margallo asked the Bolivians for a written statement guaranteeing that Snowden was not one of the passengers.

US President Barack Obama has made it clear that any country that shelters Snowden will face serious consequences.

Snowden is believed to be hiding at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, where he arrived on June 23 from Hong Kong.