Berlin: Chancellor Angela Merkel's office asked the US ambassador to come on Thursday to discuss new allegations of NSA spying, which threatened to drive a new wedge through transatlantic ties.
"We confirm that US ambassador (John) Emerson was invited to the chancellery to talk," a German government source told AFP, after the Frankfurter Allgemeine daily said Merkel's chief of staff Peter Altmaier had asked for the meeting.
It was unclear whether the discussion had already taken place, and the US embassy had no immediate comment.
German-US relations were badly strained after fugitive US intelligence contractor Edward Snow den in 2013 revealed widespread US foreign surveillance, although a probe into the alleged tapping of Merkel's mobile phone was dropped last month over a lack of proof.
According to the latest Wikileaks documents, the NSA did not limit its snooping activities to Merkel, and showed particular interest in the activities of the ministries of finance, economy and agriculture, the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote.
Current Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel was among those spied on by the NSA, the report said, although it noted that he was in the opposition at the time.
While Snowden alleged US spying on many European governments, his disclosures triggered particular anger in Germany where bitterness lingers over mass state spying on citizens by the Stasi secret police in former communist East Germany where Merkel grew up.
Washington appeared to confirm that her phone had been tapped when US officials said the cellphone would not be a target in the future.
"We confirm that US ambassador (John) Emerson was invited to the chancellery to talk," a German government source told AFP, after the Frankfurter Allgemeine daily said Merkel's chief of staff Peter Altmaier had asked for the meeting.
It was unclear whether the discussion had already taken place, and the US embassy had no immediate comment.
German-US relations were badly strained after fugitive US intelligence contractor Edward Snow den in 2013 revealed widespread US foreign surveillance, although a probe into the alleged tapping of Merkel's mobile phone was dropped last month over a lack of proof.
Advertisement
According to the latest Wikileaks documents, the NSA did not limit its snooping activities to Merkel, and showed particular interest in the activities of the ministries of finance, economy and agriculture, the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote.
Advertisement
Current Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel was among those spied on by the NSA, the report said, although it noted that he was in the opposition at the time.
Advertisement
While Snowden alleged US spying on many European governments, his disclosures triggered particular anger in Germany where bitterness lingers over mass state spying on citizens by the Stasi secret police in former communist East Germany where Merkel grew up.
Advertisement
Washington appeared to confirm that her phone had been tapped when US officials said the cellphone would not be a target in the future.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
AI-Generated Images Of Barack Obama And Angela Merkel Enjoying Vacation On A Beach Amazes Internet Ex-German Chancellor Wins UN Award For Resettling Syrian Refugees Security Expert, 2 Others Tried To Sell US Secrets To Foreign Governments World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage 1 Passenger Dies As Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derails In UP Why BJP Lost Lok Sabha Polls In Uttar Pradesh - 6 Reasons In Party Report Man Insulted By Employer's Son Takes Revenge, Robs Him Off Rs 3.5 Crore Norton Motorcycles To Be Launched In India; Six Motorcycles Announced For Global Markets 2 Of World's 5 Largest Coal Mines Now In India: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.