BERLIN -- The US National Security Agency (NSA) spied on former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder over his criticism of the Iraq War, according to reports on Tuesday.

Schroder's phone was tapped from 2002 because of his critical attitude towards US preparations for the Iraq War, German Media quoted unnamed U.S. government officials and "NSA insiders".

The NSA spying involved not only the detection of connection data, but also written and spoken communications, reports said.

The former chancellor, who led Germany from 1998 to 2005, parted with America's views in 2002 by stating Germany would not provide troops or money for an invasion of Iraq.

Schroder told media that he was not surprised by the news. "At the time I wouldn't have thought American security services were listening in on me, but it doesn't surprise me now," he said.