Germany welcomes Obama ban on spying on leaders of U.S. allies

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany welcomed a promise by U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday to ban eavesdropping on leaders of close allies after ties were frayed last year by reports that the United States monitored Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone.

Berlin also said it would keep pushing for a sweeping "no-spy" accord with Washington, far beyond just Merkel, following the reports of secret surveillance of her phone by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).