German spy chiefs to head to US for spying talks

[October 25, 2013]  BRUSSELS (AP) -- Senior German officials will travel to the U.S. "shortly" to talk with the White House and the National Security Agency about spying allegations, including how Chancellor Angela Merkel's cellphone was allegedly monitored by the NSA.

Government spokesman Georg Streiter said Friday that the heads of Germany's foreign and domestic intelligence agencies would participate in the talks. He did not give a specific date for the trip, saying it was being arranged on "relatively short notice."

At a summit Friday in Brussels, European Union leaders vowed to maintain a strong trans-Atlantic partnership despite their anger over allegations of widespread U.S. spying on allies.

But France and Germany say new surveillance rules should be agreed upon with the U.S. this year.

[Associated Press; By JOHN-THOR DAHLBURG and GEIR MOULSON]

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