White House: US not monitoring Merkel's calls

[October 24, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House says President Barack Obama has assured German Chancellor Angela Merkel (AHN'-geh-lah MEHR'-kuhl) that the U.S. isn't listening in on her phone calls.

White House spokesman Jay Carney says Obama and Merkel spoke by phone on Wednesday. Germany says Merkel initiated the call after receiving information that U.S. intelligence may have targeted her mobile phone. Merkel's spokesman says the chancellor told Obama that if true, it would be unacceptable.

But Carney says, quote, "The United States is not monitoring and will not monitor the communications of the chancellor."

Carney says the U.S. is examining Germany's concerns as part of an ongoing review of how the U.S. gathers intelligence. The White House has cited that review in responding to similar spying concerns from France and other U.S. allies.

[Associated Press]

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