French president says US spying on EU allies threatens free-trade talks European leaders responded with anger to newly leaked top-secret documents that indicate US intelligence agencies bugged European Union offices in New York, Washington, DC and Brussels, tapping their phones and fax machines and accessing EU computer systems. From France, FSRN’s Liam Moriarty has more. The allegations were published over the weekend by the German magazine Der Speigel and the Guardian newspaper in the UK. Both say the leaked documents came from fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden. They reportedly reveal a series of US programs aimed at intercepting communications among EU officials on a range of policy and trade issues. European reaction has been swift. Martin Schultz, president of the European Parliament, said if the allegations are true, it would represent a deep breach of trust. “It is shocking that the United States take measures against their most important, their nearest allies, comparable to measures taken in the past by the KGB, by the secret service of the Soviet Union.” French president Francois Hollande said the incident threatens the upcoming US-EU free trade negotiations. In 2001, the European parliament investigated NSA spying in Europe as part of the so-called Echelon Project and said that spying for economic advantage could breach EU law. Secretary of State Kerry has downplayed the current controversy, saying he didn’t know the details of the allegations, but that all countries routinely seek out information to protect their national security. Liam Moriarty, FSRN, Normandy, France. Snowden still in Moscow airport, Putin says no asylum unless he stops the leaks Former national security contractor Edward Snowden remains in a Moscow airport where he applied for asylum last night. Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that Snowden would not receive asylum unless he stops “damaging” Russia's American “partners.”