France calls US spying 'unacceptable' after WikiLeaks claims

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AFP Paris
Last Updated : Jun 24 2015 | 8:22 PM IST
France summoned the US ambassador today to complain about "unacceptable" spying on President Francois Hollande and his two predecessors that was apparently revealed in leaked documents.
Hollande was due to discuss the documents released by WikiLeaks with US President Barack Obama in the coming hours.
France "will not tolerate any acts that threaten its security" the presidency said, after a meeting between Hollande and his top intelligence officials and cabinet ministers.
US Ambassador Jane Hartley has also been summoned to meet French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, diplomatic sources told AFP.
The documents -- labelled "Top Secret" and appearing to reveal spying on Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy and Hollande from 2006 to 2012 -- were published by WikiLeaks in partnership with French newspaper Liberation and the Mediapart website.
The leak coincides with a vote later today in the French parliament on a controversial new law granting the state sweeping powers to spy on its citizens.
The White House said it was not targeting Hollande's communications and will not do so in the future, but it did not comment on past activities.
"We are not targeting and will not target the communications of President Hollande," said National Security Council spokesman Ned Price late yesterday, calling the US partnership with France "indispensable".
Hollande's office recalled US promises in late 2013 not to spy on French leaders following accusations that the US National Security Agency (NSA) had wiretapped German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"Commitments were made by the US authorities," the Elysee Palace said in a statement. "They must be remembered and strictly respected."
France's newly appointed national intelligence coordinator Didier Le Bret will also travel to Washington to discuss the issue, the government said.
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First Published: Jun 24 2015 | 8:22 PM IST

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