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Germany hopes for Snowden meeting on US spying Germany hopes for Snowden meeting on US spying
(about 1 hour later)
The German government says it is keen to hear directly from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden about the US spy agency's activities. The German government says it is keen to hear directly from the fugitive NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden about the US spy agency's activities.
"If the message is that Mr Snowden wants to give us information then we'll gladly accept that," said German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich."If the message is that Mr Snowden wants to give us information then we'll gladly accept that," said German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich.
He did not specify which German officials might meet Mr Snowden, who is a fugitive in Moscow. Mr Snowden's lawyer said a meeting could occur in Moscow, but not Germany.
Mr Snowden has met a German Green MP, Hans-Christian Stroebele, in Moscow. The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has said that in some cases, US spying has gone too far.
Mr Stroebele tweeted a photograph of himself with Mr Snowden, who has temporary asylum in Russia. He said he would work with President Barack Obama to prevent further inappropriate actions by the National Security Agency.
It is not clear whether Mr Snowden would get legal protection in Germany. The US authorities want to get him extradited to stand trial for revealing official secrets. Mr Snowden, 30, fled to Russia in June after leaking details of far-reaching US telephone espionage. He has temporary asylum, allowing him to live in Russia until next June.
His Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena has said his client would not be able to go to Germany to help investigators, but could give evidence in Moscow. In a surprise move, a German Green MP, Hans-Christian Stroebele, has met Mr Snowden in Moscow and revealed the former intelligence contractor's readiness to brief the German government on NSA spying.
The scale of the alleged US espionage has provoked international concern and calls for tighter supervision.
Asian countries have protested at claims that Australia was involved in a US-led spy network.
China has demanded an explanation of the reports, while Indonesia has summoned the Australian ambassador to Jakarta.
'Not on'
Reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone was bugged by US spies for years overshadowed last week's EU summit and she remarked with irritation that spying on friends is "really not on".Reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone was bugged by US spies for years overshadowed last week's EU summit and she remarked with irritation that spying on friends is "really not on".
Mr Friedrich, quoted by German media, said that "any clarification, any information and facts that we can get, is good". According to Mr Stroebele, Mr Snowden is not keen on German investigators going to see him in Moscow, but would be ready to go to Germany if it could be guaranteed that he would not be extradited to the United States.
"We will find a way, if Mr Snowden is willing to talk,'' he added. It is not clear whether Mr Snowden would get legal protection in Germany. The US authorities want to get him extradited to stand trial for revealing official secrets.
Mr Snowden gave Mr Stroebele a letter addressed to the German government, offering to divulge more information about National Security Agency surveillance, Mr Stroebele said. But the German government says it would welcome a meeting with the whistleblower.
The fugitive has a visa allowing him to live in Russia until next June. "We will find a way, if Mr Snowden is willing to talk,'' Mr Friedrich said.
Some in Germany are raising the possibility of Berlin then granting him asylum. "Any clarification, any information and facts that we can get, is good."
That would raise all sorts of issues, the BBC's Stephen Evans reports from Berlin - including whether Germany could or would refuse to extradite him to the United States. In other developments:
Mr Snowden, 30, fled to Russia in June after leaking details of far-reaching US telephone espionage. 'Amazingly talkative'
The scale of the alleged espionage has provoked international concern and calls for tighter supervision. Mr Snowden "will not go to Germany", his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said. "This is not possible because he has no right to cross Russian borders.
Mr Snowden "will not go to Germany", his lawyer said. "This is not possible because he has no right to cross Russian borders.
"Within the framework of international agreements Snowden can give testimony in Russia but this should be decided by the German authorities.""Within the framework of international agreements Snowden can give testimony in Russia but this should be decided by the German authorities."
New job But Mr Stroebele said there was a possibility that Mr Snowden could travel to Germany, the BBC's Stephen Evans reports from Berlin.
Earlier Mr Stroebele said Mr Snowden would be prepared to come to Germany to testify to an investigation into the NSA for which he once worked. The Bundestag - the lower house of parliament - has the power to decree that someone addressing it has immunity.
Speaking to German ARD television, Mr Stroebele said that Mr Snowden "is fundamentally ready to help bring things to light".Speaking to German ARD television, Mr Stroebele said that Mr Snowden "is fundamentally ready to help bring things to light".
"The conditions for that have to be established. We had a long discussion about that.""The conditions for that have to be established. We had a long discussion about that."
The MP said he had suggested that investigators could question Mr Snowden in Moscow about the NSA.The MP said he had suggested that investigators could question Mr Snowden in Moscow about the NSA.
Mr Snowden "made it clear that he knows a very great deal," he went on.Mr Snowden "made it clear that he knows a very great deal," he went on.
Mr Stroebele described the former intelligence contractor as "amazingly talkative - he has a mission, an urge to communicate, he wants things to be put back on a legal basis".Mr Stroebele described the former intelligence contractor as "amazingly talkative - he has a mission, an urge to communicate, he wants things to be put back on a legal basis".
Mr Snowden is starting work on Friday for a major private website in Russia, his lawyer has said.Mr Snowden is starting work on Friday for a major private website in Russia, his lawyer has said.
Mr Kucherena would not disclose which site has employed Mr Snowden, citing security concerns. Mr Kucherena would not disclose which site has employed Mr Snowden, citing security concerns.