UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- South American leaders told the U.N. secretary-general they were concerned about spy programs revealed by former U.S. security contractor Edward Snowden.
Snowden was granted political asylum in Russia. He faces charges in the United States, including two espionage-related counts, for leaking information about the surveillance program dubbed Prism.
South American leaders expressed concern about the situation during a multilateral meeting at the United Nations' headquarters.
Bolivian President Evo Morales threatened to close the U.S. Embassy in La Paz after his plane was barred from European airspace in early July amid suspicions he was traveling with Snowden. His plane was forced to land in Austria.
A statement from Ban recognized the concerns.
"U.N. human rights mechanisms had pointed to important rights and privacy issues at stake in connection with surveillance," his spokesman's office said Monday. "He reiterated the need to safeguard these fundamental rights."
European lawmakers backed legislation in July calling for an in-depth investigation into the surveillance program. European Union networks were targeted by the U.S. program.
Catherine Ashton, the top foreign policy chief for the EU, said she wanted "urgent clarification" on the issue.
