http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/05/15/german.spying.reut/Merkel: Stop spying on reporters
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) -- Chancellor Angela Merkel's government admitted on Monday that the foreign intelligence agency had spied on German journalists and said it had ordered it to stop.
Government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said the surveillance by the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) appeared to be "isolated past cases" and in future "such operative measures against journalists ... are not to be repeated."
He said the BND had been asked for a report on the issue this week and the government would then consider what "personnel consequences" should be drawn, an indication that heads could roll.
The affair has dealt a new and damaging blow to the BND, responsible for gathering intelligence abroad.