Pressure is growing on the White House to explain
US intelligence gathering and why President
Barack Obama appeared not to know the extent of
operations.
The intelligence agency head and other officials are to
testify before the House of Representatives later.
And the chair of the Senate's intelligence committee
called for a "total review" of US spying programmes.
The president has spoken publicly of his intent to probe
spying activities amid claims of eavesdropping on allies.
An EU delegate in Washington has described the row
over intelligence gathering as "a breakdown of trust".
Additional constraints
In a US television interview, President Obama said that
national security operations were being reassessed to
make sure the National Security Agency's (NSA)
growing technical spying capability was kept under
control.
"We give them policy direction," he told ABC's Fusion
network.
"But what we've seen over the last several years is their
capacities continue to develop and expand, and that's
why I'm initiating now, a review to make sure that what
they're able to do, doesn't necessarily mean what they
should be doing."
White House spokesman Jay Carney earlier told
reporters that the administration "recognise[s] there
needs to be additional constraints on how we gather
and use intelligence".
Neither Mr Carney nor Mr Obama have commented on
specific allegations that the US eavesdropped on
international allies, including tapping the phones of
foreign officials.
German media reported that the US had bugged
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone for more
than a decade - and that the surveillance only ended a
few months ago.
An across-the-board review of US intelligence resources
is currently under way.
The head of the NSA, Gen Keith Alexander, and other
experts are due to testify before the House of
Representatives intelligence committee at 13:30 local
time (17:30 GMT) on Tuesday.
The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Washington says tough
questions can be expected from Congress as politicians
of all stripes have been angered by the revelations of
large scale intelligence gathering on both Americans
and US allies.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press quoted an unnamed
administration official saying the Obama government
was considering ending spying on allied heads of state.
The official said a final decision had still to be made, as
the internal review was under way.
'Totally opposed'
Senator Dianne Feinstein, the chair of the Senate
intelligence panel, said that in light of the Merkel
revelations, a review of all intelligence programmes was
necessary.
"With respect to NSA collection of intelligence on
leaders of US allies - including France, Spain, Mexico
and Germany - let me state unequivocally: I am totally
opposed."
"It is my understanding that President Obama was not
aware Chancellor Merkel's communications were being
collected since 2002. That is a big problem."
Senator Feinstein said the White House had told her
that all surveillance of leaders of countries friendly to
the US would stop.
However, the BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell
says a senior administration official has told the BBC
this is not accurate - there have not been such policy
changes.
Earlier on Monday, representatives from the European
Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and
Home Affairs spoke to members of the US Congress
about the alleged US spying on European leaders and
citizens.
The European delegation was reportedly unhappy with
the "stock" responses from US officials on the issue.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is also sending
intelligence officials to Washington.
The allegations of US surveillance on international allies
stem from documents leaked by fugitive ex-US
intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, now living in
Russia.
The US has had a "no spying pact", known as Five Eyes,
with Britain since just after World War II, with Australia,
New Zealand and Canada later joining.
US intelligence gathering and why President
Barack Obama appeared not to know the extent of
operations.
The intelligence agency head and other officials are to
testify before the House of Representatives later.
And the chair of the Senate's intelligence committee
called for a "total review" of US spying programmes.
The president has spoken publicly of his intent to probe
spying activities amid claims of eavesdropping on allies.
An EU delegate in Washington has described the row
over intelligence gathering as "a breakdown of trust".
Additional constraints
In a US television interview, President Obama said that
national security operations were being reassessed to
make sure the National Security Agency's (NSA)
growing technical spying capability was kept under
control.
"We give them policy direction," he told ABC's Fusion
network.
"But what we've seen over the last several years is their
capacities continue to develop and expand, and that's
why I'm initiating now, a review to make sure that what
they're able to do, doesn't necessarily mean what they
should be doing."
White House spokesman Jay Carney earlier told
reporters that the administration "recognise[s] there
needs to be additional constraints on how we gather
and use intelligence".
Neither Mr Carney nor Mr Obama have commented on
specific allegations that the US eavesdropped on
international allies, including tapping the phones of
foreign officials.
German media reported that the US had bugged
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone for more
than a decade - and that the surveillance only ended a
few months ago.
An across-the-board review of US intelligence resources
is currently under way.
The head of the NSA, Gen Keith Alexander, and other
experts are due to testify before the House of
Representatives intelligence committee at 13:30 local
time (17:30 GMT) on Tuesday.
The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Washington says tough
questions can be expected from Congress as politicians
of all stripes have been angered by the revelations of
large scale intelligence gathering on both Americans
and US allies.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press quoted an unnamed
administration official saying the Obama government
was considering ending spying on allied heads of state.
The official said a final decision had still to be made, as
the internal review was under way.
'Totally opposed'
Senator Dianne Feinstein, the chair of the Senate
intelligence panel, said that in light of the Merkel
revelations, a review of all intelligence programmes was
necessary.
"With respect to NSA collection of intelligence on
leaders of US allies - including France, Spain, Mexico
and Germany - let me state unequivocally: I am totally
opposed."
"It is my understanding that President Obama was not
aware Chancellor Merkel's communications were being
collected since 2002. That is a big problem."
Senator Feinstein said the White House had told her
that all surveillance of leaders of countries friendly to
the US would stop.
However, the BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell
says a senior administration official has told the BBC
this is not accurate - there have not been such policy
changes.
Earlier on Monday, representatives from the European
Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and
Home Affairs spoke to members of the US Congress
about the alleged US spying on European leaders and
citizens.
The European delegation was reportedly unhappy with
the "stock" responses from US officials on the issue.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is also sending
intelligence officials to Washington.
The allegations of US surveillance on international allies
stem from documents leaked by fugitive ex-US
intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, now living in
Russia.
The US has had a "no spying pact", known as Five Eyes,
with Britain since just after World War II, with Australia,
New Zealand and Canada later joining.
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