Obama sorry amid US spying claims

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday apologized to Tokyo after WikiLeaks claimed Washington had spied on Japanese politicians, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.

Obama held a telephone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday morning, spokesman Yoshihide Suga said.

"President Obama said he was very sorry ... as the case caused a big debate in Japan," Suga said, without confirming the spying claims.