US wiretapped France's presidents: media citing WikiLeaks

[PARIS] The United States wiretapped France's former presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as current leader Francois Hollande, French media reported Tuesday, citing WikiLeaks files.

The spying spanned 2006 to 2012, French newspaper Liberation and the Mediapart website said, quoting documents classed as "Top Secret" which include five reports from the US National Security Agency based on intercepted communications.

The most recent document is dated May 22, 2012, just days before Mr Hollande took office, and reveals that the French leader "approved holding secret meetings in Paris to discuss the eurozone crisis, particularly the consequences of a Greek exit from the eurozone".

Another document dated 2008 was titled "Sarkozy sees himself as only one who can resolve world financial crisis".

Neither Mr Hollande's office nor Washington would comment on the information.

Contacted on Tuesday by AFP, Mr Hollande's aide said: "We will see what it is about." US State Department spokesman John Kirby meanwhile said: "We do not comment on the veracity or content of leaked documents".

AFP