German opposition seeks court ruling to force Snowden hearing on NSA in Berlin

BERLIN – Opposition lawmakers have asked Germany's highest court to rule on whether former NSA contractor Edward Snowden can come to Berlin to testify about the agency's activities.

Members of the Greens and the Left Party said Friday that they want a parliamentary panel investigating the National Security Agency's activities in Germany to hear Snowden in person.

The government doesn't want to allow Snowden into the country, citing the damage this could do to Germany's relationship with the United States.

Instead, government parties on the panel want to question Snowden in Moscow, where he is currently in exile.

The former NSA contractor has said through a lawyer that he will only speak to the panel if he is allowed to do so Germany.