Vatican denies knowledge of NSA eavesdropping

A German delegation of intelligence officials arrive in Washington for talks at the White House.

The meeting follows claims the U.S. monitored Chancellor Angelea Merkel's mobile.

But just hours before new reports surfaced about the National Security Agency hacking into more communications.

The UN said it had received assurances from the U.S. but did not say whether the organisation had been spied on in the past.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) MARTIN NESIRKY, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL, SAYING:

"I understand that the U.S. authorities have given assurances that United Nations communications are not and will not be monitored."

The NSA denied that it had targetted the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church said it had no knowledge that the NSA had eavesdropped on phone calls.

But still visitors to the Vatican were outraged at the possibility of a spiritual leader being bugged.

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PILGRIM, EMANUELE C