Germany is to investigate allegations by US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden that the US government bugged Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone.
Federal prosecutor Harald Range told the German parliament’s legal affairs committee that an investigation would be held against “unknown” persons.
Ms Merkel has publicly asked for an explanation for the alleged spying by the US National Security Agency (NSA).
The inquiry was announced as US President Barack Obama visited Europe.
“Sufficient factual evidence exists that unknown members of the US intelligence services spied on the mobile phone of Chancellor Angela Merkel,” Mr Range said on Wednesday.
At the same time, he said he had decided against opening an investigation into claims of wider NSA surveillance of German citizens, AFP news agency reports.
Pressure for a wide-ranging investigation had been growing, correspondents say.
