Germany wants quick clarification of new NSA spy allegations

Germany’s foreign minister says he’s hoping that new allegations of U.S. eavesdropping on senior German government officials’ telephones can be clarified “as quickly as possible.”

Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters in Berlin on Friday that Germany needs to continue to work closely with the United States on many international issues including negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, and he hoped for cooperation on explaining the details that were released by WikiLeaks this week.

He says: “I hope the Americans will be helpful in this clarification.”

Reports two years ago that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone was monitored by the NSA prompted President Barack Obama to pledge he wouldn’t allow America’s surveillance capability to damage relations with close allies.

The latest list reportedly included numbers used by the German economy and finance ministries.