German confidence in US shaken over spying claims

 
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German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich said Germany's confidence in the United States is shaken by the alleged spying of Chancellor Angela Merkel's cell phone by the U.S. National Security Agency.

U.S. President Barack Obama  and Chancellor Angela Merkel 

"The confidence in our ally, (the) USA, is shaken," Friedrich told Bild am Sonntag newspaper, adding that he wanted complete information on all accusations.

"If the Americans intercepted cell phones in Germany, they broke German law on German soil," Friedrich said.

The newspaper said that the NSA has been tapping Merkel's phone since 2002 and the NSA chief Gen Alexander informed U.S. President Barack Obama of the bugging in 2010 and Obama did not do anything to stop such an act.

"Gen. Alexander did not discuss with President Obama in 2010 an alleged foreign intelligence operation involving German Chancellor Merkel, nor has he ever discussed alleged operations involving Chancellor Merkel," NSA spokeswoman Vanee' Vines told CNN.

Obama was reported that he knew nothing about the bugging.

The spying claims had "severely shaken" relationships between Europe and the United States, Merkel said at a summit of European Union leaders last week.

"Obviously, words will not be sufficient," said the Germany Chancellor. "True change is necessary."

"We need trust. Spying among friends is never acceptable," she said.

The spying episode of Merkel has sparked outrage in Germany. The German government said it would be "a serious breach of trust" if confirmed.

High-ranking representatives of German security services as well as chancellery will travel to Washington next week to seek clarifications of widespread U.S. spying allegations, including the alleged monitoring of mobile phone communications of Merkel, government spokesman Georg Streiter said on Friday.

The German representatives are due to hold talks with White House officials as well as representatives of the NSA, the spokesman told reporters on Friday.

According to German media reports, the European Union will also send representatives to the United States to talk about the alleged U.S. surveillance activities in Europe.

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