sshfs  <host>:<remote_dir>  <local_dir>

results in an error:

fusermount: failed to open /etc/fuse.conf: Permission denied
fusermount: mount failed: Operation not permitted

_if_ the local user is in LDAP and there is no cache daemon running.

Although this report was generated in a i386 installation, it applies
to amd64 as well.
The problem is _not_ related to the permissions of /dev/fuse (e.g. "user
not in group fuse").

As a workaround, install nscd or unscd.

Analysis of this problem was tedious.
It should be fixed upstream (I guess).
Meanwhile, a hint in README.Debian would be appropriate.

Maybe the sshfs package should recommend/suggest (u)nscd?

Regards,
Burkhard Bunk.