German Chancellor Calls President Obama to Confront Him Over 'Completely Unacceptable' NSA Claims

BRUSSELS (TheBlaze/AP) — The German government said Chancellor Angela Merkel called President Barack Obama after receiving information that the NSA may have targeted her cellphone as part of its intelligence program.

Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert said she made clear in Wednesday's call that "she views such practices, if the indications are confirmed ... as completely unacceptable" and called for U.S. authorities to clarify the extent of surveillance in Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for the ceremony to receive her documents of dismissal from German President Joachim Gauck in Berlin, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. Merkel recently alleged that the NSA was spying on her communications. (AP/Markus Schreiber)

A statement from Seibert said the German government "has received information that the chancellor's cellphone may be monitored by American intelligence." The government wouldn't elaborate but news magazine Der Spiegel, which has published material from NSA leaker Edward Snowden, said its research triggered the response.

The White House said Obama assured Merkel that the U.S. isn't listening in on her calls.

White House spokesman Jay Carney confirmed Obama and Merkel spoke by on the phone after Merkel initiated the call.

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

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

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