U.S. Spying On Danish Government?

U.S. Ambassador Richard Swett on Monday angrily denied allegations made in a weekend newspaper report that a satellite dish on the U.S. embassy's roof is used to spy on the Danish government.

A former Canadian intelligence officer told the Jyllands-Posten on Sunday that an antenna on the embassy roof is pointing toward Danish government offices and is likely used to eavesdrop.

Mike Frost said U.S. intelligence officers worked from the top floor of the embassy and material intercepted in Denmark automatically was sent to U.S. National Security Agency headquarters in Maryland, where it was analyzed.

"There is strong evidence that the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen is listening to the government's communications," Frost, who was a Canadian intelligence officer for 34 years, said after seeing photos of satellite dishes on the downtown diplomatic building.

Swett, who has been U.S. ambassador in Denmark since 1998, issued a statement Monday denying the allegations.

"The allegations are false and absurd," he said. "The U.S. government does not spy on the government of Denmark. I am outraged by these allegations."

The Danish government had no immediate comment.