DHAKA: France has summoned the US envoy in Paris over claims that the US spied on President Francois Hollande and his two predecessors.

Officials say, reports the BBC.

Whistleblower website Wikileaks reports the US National Security Agency (NSA) spied on Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac between 2006-12.

Hollande called an emergency meeting and said France would ‘not tolerate’ acts that threaten its security.

The US said it would not comment on ‘specific intelligence allegations’.

Ned Price, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, added that the US was ‘not targeting and will not target the communications of Mr Hollande’.

The NSA has previously been accused of spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel and on Brazilian and Mexican leaders.

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius has summoned US ambassador Jane Hartley to discuss the latest claims, French officials said.

Hartley is expected to visit the foreign ministry in Paris later on Wednesday.

A statement from the French presidency (in French) said the US must respect a promise not to spy on French leaders. The statement came after an emergency meeting of security chiefs in Paris.

A senior French intelligence official is meanwhile expected to visit Washington to discuss the spying claims.

BDST: 1807 HRS, JUN 24, 2015
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** US ‘spied on French presidents’