Poll shows Germans would like U.S. to "apologize"

BERLIN More than three quarters of Germans want Barack Obama to apologize to their Cancellor Angela Merkel for the alleged spying of her mobile phone. A recently published Emnid Institute poll showed that 76 percent of Germans expected such a move from the U.S. president. Poll shows Germans would like U.S. to "apologize" Only 16 percent believe that an apology is not necessary, while 60 percent think that this spying scandal will do "great harm" to U.S.-Germany relations. Regardless of the scandal, more than half of Germans, 53 percent, consider Americans "good allies," while 39 percent think otherwise. Citing its sources, the newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported that Obama was informed about the spying efforts by the head of the National Security Agency (NSA) is 2010. "Obama did not stop the operation, but let it continue," the newspaper quoted an unnamed high-ranking NSA official, AFP reported. Previously, the weekly Spiegel reported on the basis of confidential documents that were "leaked" from the NSA that Merkel had been a target since 2002, and that she was "under surveillance" before Obama's visit to Berlin in June. These findings have sparked anger in European capitals and have prompted European leaders to seek a new agreement with Washington on intelligence data gathering, "in order to keep the alliance to combat terrorism on the right track." (Beta/AP, file) Tanjug

Poll shows Germans would like U.S. to "apologize"

Only 16 percent believe that an apology is not necessary, while 60 percent think that this spying scandal will do "great harm" to U.S.-Germany relations.

Regardless of the scandal, more than half of Germans, 53 percent, consider Americans "good allies," while 39 percent think otherwise.

Citing its sources, the newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported that Obama was informed about the spying efforts by the head of the National Security Agency (NSA) is 2010.

"Obama did not stop the operation, but let it continue," the newspaper quoted an unnamed high-ranking NSA official, AFP reported.

Previously, the weekly Spiegel reported on the basis of confidential documents that were "leaked" from the NSA that Merkel had been a target since 2002, and that she was "under surveillance" before Obama's visit to Berlin in June.

These findings have sparked anger in European capitals and have prompted European leaders to seek a new agreement with Washington on intelligence data gathering, "in order to keep the alliance to combat terrorism on the right track."