The United States embassy in Phnom Penh contains an intelligence-gathering operation that amasses information about Cambodia, the Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday, citing a map first published in Germany’s Der Spiegel.

The Herald article referenced some 90 international surveillance sites, including ones housed in embassies in neighbouring Jakarta, Yangon, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Embassies in the capitals of long-time US allies including Australia, Japan and Singapore contain no such facilities, the Herald reported.

Der Spiegel yesterday refused to confirm any details about the map, which purportedly dates from 2010 and could not be found online, citing legal reasons.

Sean McIntosh, spokesman for the US embassy in Phnom Penh, last night declined to comment on specific allegations of intelligence gathering.

“We have made clear that the United States gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations,” McIntosh wrote in a text message to a Post reporter last night. “The United States takes the concerns of the international community seriously and has been regularly consulting with affected partners.”

Reached last night, Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said, “I have no idea about it.”

The US has come under fire in recent months after documents revealing international spying were released by National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.