Geneva's public prosecutor earlier on Wednesday searched HSBC's lakeside Swiss office after opening a criminal inquiry into allegations of aggravated money laundering, which emerged in 2008 after Falciani fled with files he took from the bank.

"I hope to have the possibility of a right of safe passage first to attend my trial, I am not trying to dodge my responsibility," Falciani told Swiss French-language broadcaster RSR, which said he was speaking from a cafe in Italy.

Under Swiss criminal law, prosecutors may grant a so-called "safe conduct" preventing its subject from facing arrest.

(Reporting by Stephanie Ulmer-Nebehay in Geneva and Matthias Blamont in Paris; Writing by Maria Sheahan; editing by Susan Thomas)