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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Germany summons US ambassador over new spying claims | Germany summons US ambassador over new spying claims |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Angela Merkel’s chief of staff has summoned the US ambassador to a meeting over allegations that the National Security Agency spied on German ministers. | Angela Merkel’s chief of staff has summoned the US ambassador to a meeting over allegations that the National Security Agency spied on German ministers. |
| The meeting between Peter Altmaier and ambassador John Emerson follows claims that NSA agents spied not only on Merkel but on other members of her government. | The meeting between Peter Altmaier and ambassador John Emerson follows claims that NSA agents spied not only on Merkel but on other members of her government. |
| WikiLeaks said 69 telephone numbers of government ministries, including the economy and finance ministries, had been found in secret NSA files. | WikiLeaks said 69 telephone numbers of government ministries, including the economy and finance ministries, had been found in secret NSA files. |
| Related: German secret service BND reduces cooperation with NSA | Related: German secret service BND reduces cooperation with NSA |
| Germany’s attorney general, Harald Range, said he would investigate the allegations and decide whether to prosecute the NSA, according to Spiegel Online. | Germany’s attorney general, Harald Range, said he would investigate the allegations and decide whether to prosecute the NSA, according to Spiegel Online. |
| Three weeks ago Range dropped an investigation into reports that Merkel’s own phone had been targeted by the NSA, citing a lack of evidence. | |
| Patrick Sensburg, the Christian Democrat chair of a parliamentary committee investigating the NSA allegations, told German television that it was important to find out whether the spying was still ongoin. | Patrick Sensburg, the Christian Democrat chair of a parliamentary committee investigating the NSA allegations, told German television that it was important to find out whether the spying was still ongoin. |
| “We also have to assume that other countries are involved in similar activities,” he said. | “We also have to assume that other countries are involved in similar activities,” he said. |
| Sigmar Gabriel, the deputy chancellor and economy minister, said he remained relaxed about the claims. “You have a rather ironic relationship towards all this,” he said. “We don’t do anything in the ministries on the telephone that would be worth bugging.” | Sigmar Gabriel, the deputy chancellor and economy minister, said he remained relaxed about the claims. “You have a rather ironic relationship towards all this,” he said. “We don’t do anything in the ministries on the telephone that would be worth bugging.” |
| He said it was far more pressing to find out whether the NSA had spied on German businesses. “My ministry is responsible for protecting companies from economic espionage, and that I find the more problematic topic,” he said. | He said it was far more pressing to find out whether the NSA had spied on German businesses. “My ministry is responsible for protecting companies from economic espionage, and that I find the more problematic topic,” he said. |