Germany's Merkel says US spying allegations are serious

US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel walk through the Colonnade on their way to a joint press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 2, 2014 in Washington, DC. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Mon
US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel walk through the Colonnade on their way to a joint press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 2, 2014 in Washington, DC. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday allegations that a German man worked as a double agent for US intelligence were serious and, if true, were a clear contradiction of what cooperation between partners is supposed to be about. -- PHOTO: AFP

BEIJING (REUTERS) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday allegations that a German man worked as a double agent for US intelligence were serious and, if true, were a clear contradiction of what cooperation between partners is supposed to be about.

She made the comments at a news conference while on a visit to Beijing.

The White House and State Department have so far declined to comment on the arrest of a 31-year-old employee of Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency.

According to intelligence and political sources, the man admits to passing documents to a US contact.

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