Spain and Germany probe US spy row as more claims emerge
- 11 years ago
Spain’s prime minister has said that if confirmed, allegations of widespread US spying on phone calls in his country would be “inappropriate and unacceptable between friends and allies”.
Mariano Rajoy told MPs that the head of Spain’s intelligence service is to testify before a parliamentary commission.
“The key is to clarify what has happened and generate trust, otherwise it’s very difficult to work for the benefit of the rights and liberties of our citizens. We have already made a request for the head of the CNI (Spanish intelligence services) to give evidence (in parliament),” the prime minister said.
On Tuesday America’s intelligence chief described the claims as “completely false”, saying European sources had provided much of the data.
While senior German officials were in Washington in the wake of claims that Chancellor Merkel’s mobile phone was bugged, in Berlin a small demonstration was held against the US National Security Agency.
It comes amid more allegations. Stern magazine has claimed that dozens of private US firms have been playing a major spying role in Germany, helping to feed classified information to Washington.
The weekly Italian publication Panorama has alleged that US phone surveillance targeted even the Vatican and the Pope.
Mariano Rajoy told MPs that the head of Spain’s intelligence service is to testify before a parliamentary commission.
“The key is to clarify what has happened and generate trust, otherwise it’s very difficult to work for the benefit of the rights and liberties of our citizens. We have already made a request for the head of the CNI (Spanish intelligence services) to give evidence (in parliament),” the prime minister said.
On Tuesday America’s intelligence chief described the claims as “completely false”, saying European sources had provided much of the data.
While senior German officials were in Washington in the wake of claims that Chancellor Merkel’s mobile phone was bugged, in Berlin a small demonstration was held against the US National Security Agency.
It comes amid more allegations. Stern magazine has claimed that dozens of private US firms have been playing a major spying role in Germany, helping to feed classified information to Washington.
The weekly Italian publication Panorama has alleged that US phone surveillance targeted even the Vatican and the Pope.