Brazil's Rousseff postpones US visit

Brazil's Rousseff postpones US visit

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday postponed a state visit to Washington over allegations of US cyberspying on her country.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff attends a meeting in Brasilia on September 17, 2013.

Rousseff announced the decision after discussing the spying row with US President Barack Obama Monday in a telephone call.

"The two presidents decided to postpone the state visit since the outcome of this visit should not be conditioned on an issue which for Brazil has not been satisfactorily resolved," a statement from Rousseff's office said.

The statement reflected Brasilia's clear irritation over disclosures that the US National Security Agency (NSA) spied on her email communications and on the state-run energy giant Petrobras.

The disclosures were based on documents obtained by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

Brasilia had slammed the alleged spying as "unacceptable" and demanded explanations from Washington.

In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney, commenting on the visit's postponement said: "I think it's because the relationship is so important and because it has so many facets that the president agrees with this decision they made together to postpone the visit."

"They both look forward to that visit which will celebrate our broad relationship and the president believes and their president believes as I understand it should not be overshadowed by a bilateral issue no matter how important or challenging the issue may be," he added.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT