Yangon - A US citizen was arrested Wednesday for swimming in Yangon's Inya Lake, which rims many compounds of the politically famous or notorious, military sources said.

Yettaw Gohn Yllian, 53, was detained by police early Wednesday and questioned by the military's Special Branch after he was caught swimming in Inya Lake at 5:45 am, a military official who asked to remain anonymous confirmed.

When asked by police why he was swimming in the lake, Yllian responded, "I felt very hot and wanted a swim."

His bag, which he presumably left on the lake's shore while swimming, contained a small knife, camera, computer memory stick and flashlight, sources said.

Yllian, who arrived in Yangon on a tourist visa on May 2, was taking his early morning dip in front of the government-owned International Business Centre, near former military strongman Ne Win's lakeside family compound.

Other well-known residents on Inya Lake include democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under detention at her family compound for the past six years, and the US embassy. (dpa)