Germany expels top US intelligence officer in spy row

BERLIN - Germany has asked a US intelligence official at the embassy in Berlin to leave the country in connection with investigations into suspected American spying in Germany, a German government spokesman said on Thursday.

"The request was made in light of the ongoing investigation by the chief federal prosecutor and questions that have been raised for months about the activities of US intelligence services in Germany," Steffen Seibert said in a statement.

Spying on allies is a waste of energy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday when asked about two suspected US spy cases that have come to light in the last few days and caused anger in Germany.

"From my point of view, spying on allies... is a waste of energy. We have so many problems, we should focus on the important things," Merkel said in some of her strongest comments yet on the subject at a news conference with visiting Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca.

She said the priorities should include dealing with challenges in Syria and fighting terrorists and that confidence between allies should be strengthened.