Putin calls US surveillance practice hypocrisy

Moscow, July 11 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that phone tapping threatens state sovereignty and manifests utter hypocrisy, citing recent revelations of US spying on Germany.

"It is not simply an utter hypocrisy in regards to the allies and partners," Xinhua quoted Putin as saying.

"This is a direct attempt on state sovereignty, and human rights violation."

In two new cases, an employee of the German Federal Intelligence Service and an official of the defence ministry are under investigation on suspicion of spying for the US.

Germany announced Friday it had lowered the level of cooperation with the US secret services in the wake of these revelations.

Germany has also requested the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) resident to leave the country.