Rice Briefs Brazilian FM on Spying Reforms

Brazil's Foreign Minister Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Thursday secured a White House explanation of new U.S. spying policies, after his nation reacted with outrage to revelations by fugitive leaker Edward Snowden.

Figueiredo was briefed on reforms of National Security Agency (NSA) eavesdropping programs proposed by President Barack Obama, by the president's national security adviser Susan Rice.

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff slammed the United States at the United Nations and canceled a state visit to Washington following reports that U.S. spies had listened in on Brazilian government communications.

"Ambassador Rice outlined the results of the review of U.S. signals intelligence activities, and the reforms to be implemented as described by President Obama in his January 17th speech," the White House said in a statement.

Brazil has said it will carefully monitor U.S. intelligence reforms following Obama's speech.

Obama undertook to halt U.S. spying directly on the communications of leaders of American allies, but did not specify which nations would benefit from that designation.

Rice and Figueiredo also discussed global and economic issues, the White house said.