US intel chief says Le Monde allegations over NSA 'inaccurate and misleading'

WASHINGTON - Agence France-Presse

James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, October 2, 2013 in Washington, DC. AFP photo

The US intelligence chief said Oct.22 that articles published by the French newspaper Le Monde about America's espionage activities abroad "contain inaccurate and misleading information." Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said the specific allegation that the National Security Agency collected more than 70 million "recordings of French citizens' telephone data" was false.

"While we are not going to discuss the details of our activities, we have repeatedly made it clear that the United States gathers intelligence of the type gathered by all nations," Clapper said in a statement.

"The US collects intelligence to protect the nation, its interests, and its allies from, among other things, threats such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction." Citing documents from former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, Le Monde reported Monday that the NSA taped 70.3 million phone calls in France over a 30-day period between December 10 and January 8, 2013.

The newspaper said the documents gave grounds to think the NSA targeted not only people suspected of being involved in terrorism, but also high-profile individuals from the world of business or politics.

It followed up on Tuesday by publishing details of US spying on French embassies around the world.

In a phone call with President Barack Obama, French leader Francois Hollande expressed "deep disapproval," saying according to his office that such practices were "unacceptable between friends and allies." In Paris, meanwhile, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius used a breakfast meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry to demand a full explanation of the claims.

Clapper, in his short statement, sought to defuse the row by highlighting the close relationship between Washington and Paris. "The United States values our longstanding friendship and alliance with France and we will continue to cooperate on security and intelligence matters going forward," he said.