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Barack Obama pledges greater surveillance transparency Barack Obama pledges greater surveillance transparency
(35 minutes later)
President Barack Obama has promised "appropriate reforms" to guarantee greater oversight of controversial US surveillance programmes.President Barack Obama has promised "appropriate reforms" to guarantee greater oversight of controversial US surveillance programmes.
At a White House news conference, he proposed "safeguards against abuse", including amending legislation on the collection of telephone data.At a White House news conference, he proposed "safeguards against abuse", including amending legislation on the collection of telephone data.
Mr Obama also urged allowing a lawyer to challenge decisions by the nation's secretive surveillance court.Mr Obama also urged allowing a lawyer to challenge decisions by the nation's secretive surveillance court.
He has been defending the programmes since they were leaked in June.He has been defending the programmes since they were leaked in June.
Snowden 'no patriot'
Mr Obama said on Friday that the US "can and must be more transparent" about its snooping on phone and internet data.Mr Obama said on Friday that the US "can and must be more transparent" about its snooping on phone and internet data.
"Given the history of abuse by governments, it's right to ask questions about surveillance, particularly as technology is reshaping every aspect of our lives," he told reporters."Given the history of abuse by governments, it's right to ask questions about surveillance, particularly as technology is reshaping every aspect of our lives," he told reporters.
"It's not enough for me as president to have confidence in these programmes," Mr Obama added. "The American people need to have confidence as well.""It's not enough for me as president to have confidence in these programmes," Mr Obama added. "The American people need to have confidence as well."
Snowden 'no patriot'
Mr Obama unveiled four steps aimed at reassuring Americans about the surveillance:Mr Obama unveiled four steps aimed at reassuring Americans about the surveillance:
The president went on to accuse Russia of "backward" thinking, following its recent decision to grant asylum to Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who disclosed details of the secretive surveillance programmes to media. In response to a question about Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who revealed details of the secretive surveillance programmes to media, Mr Obama said: "No, I don't think Mr Snowden was a patriot."
In response to a journalist's question about the fugitive, Mr Obama said: "No, I don't think Mr Snowden was a patriot." 'Cold War stereotypes'
The White House this week cancelled a planned summit between Mr Obama and Mr Putin next month in the Russian capital. The president went on to criticise Russia, two days after he cancelled a planned summit with President Vladimir Putin next month in Moscow.
Although on Friday he played down talk of a serious diplomatic rift with Moscow, Mr Obama said there had been more anti-American rhetoric since President Vladimir Putin returned to Russian presidency that "played into some of the old stereotypes about the Cold War contest". Mr Obama said there had been more anti-American rhetoric since Mr Putin returned to Russian presidency, which "played into some of the old stereotypes about the Cold War contest".
He said that during photocalls with President Putin, the Russian leader "has got that kind of slouch, looking like he's the bored kid in the back of the classroom". But he said their discussions in private had been constructive. "I've encouraged Mr Putin to think forward as opposed to backwards on those issues, with mixed success," Mr Obama told reporters, before heading for his summer holiday at Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Mr Obama said he would not consider it "appropriate" to boycott Russia's Winter Olympics next year, despite calls by gay rights activists to boycott the games because of a recently passed law in that country banning "homosexual propaganda". He said that during his photocalls with Mr Putin, the Russian leader "has got that kind of slouch, looking like he's the bored kid in the back of the classroom". But he said their discussions in private had been constructive.
Earlier on Friday, the US secretaries of defence and state, high talks with their Russian counterparts in Washington. Mr Obama also said he would not consider it "appropriate" to boycott Russia's Winter Olympics next year, despite calls by gay rights activists to boycott the games because of a recently passed law in that country banning "homosexual propaganda".
Earlier on Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel held talks with their Russian counterparts in Washington DC.
Mr Kerry conceded the US-Russia relationship had been complicated by "the occasional collision" and "challenging moments".
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also acknowledged problems, but said Moscow preferred to handle their differences like "grown-ups".