Merkel defends German spy cooperation with US

German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended Germany’s intelligence cooperation with the US amid allegations that German spies helped the National Security Agency collect information on allies, according to Bloomberg News Agency.

“The government will do everything to guarantee the capability of the intelligence services,” Merkel told reporters on Monday. “Considering terrorist threats, that capability can only happen in cooperation with other agencies. That very much includes the NSA, among others.”

Merkel's rebuttal is her latest attempt to deal with two years of revelations about NSA mass surveillance, including the alleged tapping of her mobile phone, that have caused outrage in Germany and led to the departure of the top US intelligence officer in Berlin last July, Bloomberg said.

With opposition parties and newspapers editorials demanding answers, Merkel pointed to a parliamentary inquiry on NSA global surveillance. Steffen Seibert, her chief spokesman, said Monday she would testify to the committee if asked.