US admits spying 'questionable' to angry Brazil

(France24) The White House has admitted there are “legitimate questions” to be answered over US spying on its allies following claims that the National Security Agency (NSA) monitored the communications of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and hacked into the computer networks of state-run oil company Petrobras.

Susan Rice, President Barack Obama's national security advisor, met Brazilian Foreign Minister Luiz Alberto Figueiredo at the White House on Wednesday as Washington attempts to smooth over relations with one of its key allies in South America.

During the meeting, Rice told Figueiredo that the United States understands Brazil’s anger over the alleged spying, based on information from NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

Rice acknowledged that certain disclosures "raise legitimate questions for our friends and allies about how these capabilities are employed”, said Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the White House’s National Security Council.

“The United States is committed to working with Brazil to address these concerns, while we continue to work together on a shared agenda of bilateral, regional and global initiatives,” Hayden said.

Rousseff: ‘I want to know everything that they have’

Whether the meeting will help heal the diplomatic rift between Brazil and the US over NSA spying remains unclear.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been among the most vocal foreign leaders expressing outrage over US surveillance of allies. "I want to know everything that they have, everything," she said.

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