Burmese state media are reporting a U.S. citizen has been arrested after he allegedly swam across a lake and entered the residence of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Reports Thursday say the man, identified as John William Yeattaw, spent two days at Aung San Suu Kyi's residence. He was caught trying to swim back across the Inya lake Tuesday.
State media says authorities confiscated the man's passport, a black backpack, pliers, a camera and U.S. and Burmese currency.
The U.S. Embassy in Rangoon says it has seen the reports and was trying to learn more.
Witnesses near the home say police were seen at Aung San Suu Kyi's lakeside compound on Thursday.
A spokesman for the opposition National League for Democracy, Nyan Win expressed concern for Aung San Suu Kyi's safety, saying the incident showed there is a lack of security around her residence.
The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years.
The French Press Agency says the American arrived in Burma last week on a tourist visa.
The current term of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest is due to expire at the end of this month. Earlier this week, Burma's military junta rejected an appeal to free her despite persistent calls for her release from opposition party leaders in Burma and the international community.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.