LatAm nations express surveillance 'indignation' to UN

(Business Standard) Latin American bloc Mercosur reiterated today to the United Nations its indignation over US espionage practices revealed by Edward Snowden, without prescribing its next steps on the matter.

During a meeting with Ban Ki-moon, foreign ministers from Venezuela, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina presented a final declaration from a recent Mercosur summit, condemning the US information gathering.

"We were mandated by our heads of state to express our serious concern with the espionage allegations that have come out of Edward Snowden's revelations," Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota told journalists.

"This is an alert that we are giving regarding practices that raise serious concerns worldwide," he said.

His Venezuelan counterpart Elias Jaua spoke of "concern and indignation," adding that the spying "violated international principles and human rights." Venezuela currently presides over Mercosur.

The two ministers said that Ban shared their worries. UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said he was unable to comment on the matter at this time.

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