Barack Obama and German chancellor Angela Merkel will hold a top-level meeting of security officials in the coming days to discuss in greater detail reports of surveillance activities by the US National Security Agency.

Germany’s top justice official said reports that US intelligence bugged European Union offices remind her of “the methods used by enemies during the Cold War”.

Martin McGuinness has said he knew there would be attempts to undermine his campaign for the presidency.

Alleged terrorist mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed called the September 11 attack a “noble victory” and branded President Barack Obama a liar in a letter released by the US military’s war crimes court.