NSA spying row: President Obama bids to strengthen US-German ties

President Barack Obama has said he will not let controversial surveillance by US intelligence services undermine Washington's ties with Germany.

Speaking to Germany's ZDF TV, he indicated that US bugging of Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone had been a mistake and would not happen again. He has also ordered curbs on how intelligence was being collected.

After the row broke out last year, Ms Merkel accused the US of an unacceptable breach of trust.