T

he Indonesian government is seeking an explanation from the US government on a report about the existence of surveillance facilities at the US Embassy in Jakarta to monitor communications networks, foreign minister has said.

'€œFirst and foremost, we wish to call on the ambassador to clarify all the details of this matter,'€ Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said in Jakarta on Tuesday, responding to a question on a news report that the US is monitoring communications from electronic surveillance in US Embassies and consulates across the region, including Jakarta.

Australia'€™s Sydney Morning Herald on its Tuesday edition reported that the US is tapping telephones and monitoring communications networks from electronic surveillance facilities in US embassies and consulates across East and Southeast Asia, according to information disclosed by intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The report revealed a top secret map listing 90 surveillance facilities worldwide, including communications intelligence facilities at embassies in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Yangon. Dated Aug. 13, 2010, the map shows no such facilities are located in Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Japan and Singapore '€” the US'€™s closest allies.

The map confirms the global reach of US signals intelligence operations with special collection facilities located in most major capitals on every continent.

'€œFirst of all we obviously need to obtain the report about the existence of such facilities in the US Embassy,'€ Marty said, adding that if it was the case, the Indonesian government would lodge a strong protest.

'€œAnd if it is confirmed that such facilities are being used in the manner that it has been reported, clearly it is unacceptable,'€ he said.

Asked whether there would be any change in communications security procedures, Marty explained that he could not disclose any such information since the government constantly updates the system to ensure it remains secure. '€œThat is something we are constantly doing,'€ he noted.

Reuters reported that US President Barack Obama might ban US spying on allied leaders as part of a review of intelligence gathering, a senior Obama administration official said on Tuesday amid a diplomatic uproar over the National Security Agency'€™s (NSA) surveillance ability.

A week after reports surfaced that the eavesdropping extended to German Chancellor Angela Merkel'€™s mobile phone, Obama is under pressure to take steps to reassure American'€™s and allies.

A senior administration official said the United States had made some individual changes in eavesdropping practices but as yet had not made across-the-broad policy changes such as ending intelligence collection that might be aimed at allies.

The official said the White House is considering a ban on intelligence collection aimed at allied leaders. A White House review that Obama ordered after NSA documents were made public by former contractor Edward Snowden is expected to be completed by year'€™s end.

Obama has come under fierce criticism abroad over allegations the NSA tapped Merkel'€™s mobile phone and conducted widespread electronic snooping in France, Italy, Spain and elsewhere.

At least some of the spying appeared to have been done without Obama'€™s knowledge.

US Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on Monday that her committee will conduct a major review of all intelligence collection programs.