U.S. plays down reports of spying on EU, other allies

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gestures before the start of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - U.S Ministerial Meeting at the 46th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan July 1, 2013. REUTERS/Ahim Rani

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (Reuters) - Nearly all national governments, not just the United States, use "lots of activities" to safeguard their interests and security, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday, responding for the first time to allegations that Washington spied on the European Union and other allies.

The EU has strongly demanded that the United States explain a report in a German magazine that Washington is spying on the group, saying that, if true, the alleged surveillance was "shocking".