Spanish Prime Minister Satisfied with US Explanation on NSA Spying

WASHINGTON – Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Monday after meeting with US President Barack Obama that Spain had received a “satisfactory” explanation of reports that American spies bugged European leaders’ phones.

Last year, leaked documents from the US National Security Agency revealed that Washington had targeted the communications of some of its closest allies in Europe.

Rajoy told reporters that the Spanish government and the United States had conducted “full consultations” on the issue and Washington’s explanations were “satisfactory.”

“As long as there are no new developments, I have nothing to add to what I have said about this previously,” Rajoy added.

According to leaks from former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, the NSA has listened in on the communications of dozens of foreign leaders.

At the height of the crisis last year Spain summoned the US ambassador to Madrid following reports that American intelligence had gathered data on 60 million phone calls in Spain, prompting criticism from Rajoy.