Obama says sorry to Japan after WikiLeaks claims of US spying

US President Barack Obama on Aug. 26 apologised to Tokyo after WikiLeaks claimed Washington had spied on Japanese politicians, a government spokesman said on Aug. 26. 

Obama held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Aug. 26 morning, spokesman Yoshihide Suga said, adding that the pair agreed to work together on global economic issues in the wake of a stock market meltdown sparked by fears over China.
 
"President Obama said he was very sorry... as the case caused a big debate in Japan," Suga told a regular news conference, without confirming the spying claims.
 
He added that Abe reiterated his "serious concern" over the case.
 
"Prime Minister Abe told (Obama) that, if the Japanese people concerned were subject to these activities, it would risk jeopardising trusting relations between allies," Suga said.
 
In an earlier conversation with US Vice President Joe Biden, Abe voiced similar concerns if the spying claims were confirmed.
 
Last month, WikiLeaks said it had intercepts revealing years-long espionage by the US National Security Agency (NSA) on Japanese officials and major companies.
 
Tokyo's response has been widely seen as muted compared to the anger expressed in France and Germany following similar NSA spying allegations.
 
Japan is one of Washington's key allies in the Asia-Pacific region and they regularly consult on defence, economic and trade issues.
 
Unlike German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Francois Hollande, Abe did not appear to be a direct target of wiretapping -- but other senior politicians were, according to WikiLeaks, including Trade Minister Yoichi Miyazawa.    

Obama and Abe also discussed market turmoil...