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| Kerry responds to claims US is bugging allies | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry has responded to allegations that the US bugged the offices of its allies, saying its activities were "not unusual" in international relations. | US Secretary of State John Kerry has responded to allegations that the US bugged the offices of its allies, saying its activities were "not unusual" in international relations. |
| There has been outrage in Europe following claims that EU embassies and American allies including France, Italy and Greece were among those targeted. | |
| A top EU official has warned the affair could put a massive trade pact at risk. | A top EU official has warned the affair could put a massive trade pact at risk. |
| The allegations come from documents apparently leaked by an ex-CIA analyst. | The allegations come from documents apparently leaked by an ex-CIA analyst. |
| Edward Snowden has been charged with theft of government property, unauthorised communication of national defence information and wilful communication of classified communications intelligence. | |
| He is believed to be at an airport in Moscow, and is seeking a destination safe from prosecution by the US authorities. | |
| Green parties in France and Germany have called on their governments to offer Mr Snowden asylum. | Green parties in France and Germany have called on their governments to offer Mr Snowden asylum. |
| "Someone like that should be protected," said Juergen Trittin, leader of Germany's Greens. | "Someone like that should be protected," said Juergen Trittin, leader of Germany's Greens. |
| "He should get safe haven here in Europe because he has done us a service by revealing a massive attack on European citizens and companies. Germany, as part of Europe, could do that." | "He should get safe haven here in Europe because he has done us a service by revealing a massive attack on European citizens and companies. Germany, as part of Europe, could do that." |
| The revelation could put plans for a new trade pact between the US and European Union, the biggest of its kind in the world, in jeopardy. | |
| "Partners do not spy on each other,'' said EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding. "We cannot negotiate over a big trans-Atlantic market if there is the slightest doubt that our partners are carrying out spying activities on the offices of our negotiators." | |
| Green Party leaders have also called for existing US-EU agreements on the exchange of bank transfer and passenger record information to be cancelled. | |
| The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton raised concerns about the reports in a meeting with Mr Kerry in Brunei. | The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton raised concerns about the reports in a meeting with Mr Kerry in Brunei. |
| He said he did not know the truth of the allegations, published at the weekend by Der Spiegel in Germany and the Guardian in Britain. | He said he did not know the truth of the allegations, published at the weekend by Der Spiegel in Germany and the Guardian in Britain. |
| But he said at a press conference: "Every country in the world that is engaged in international affairs of national security undertakes lots of activities to protect its national security and all kinds of information contributes to that. | But he said at a press conference: "Every country in the world that is engaged in international affairs of national security undertakes lots of activities to protect its national security and all kinds of information contributes to that. |
| "And all I know is that is not unusual for lots of nations. But beyond that I'm not going to comment any further until I have all the facts and find out precisely what the situation is." | "And all I know is that is not unusual for lots of nations. But beyond that I'm not going to comment any further until I have all the facts and find out precisely what the situation is." |