Myanmar arrests critic

Myanmar police have arrested a prominent government critic on suspicion of violating sedition laws, the critic and media said on Friday, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, Reuters reports from Yangon

Ngar Min Swe was arrested at his home late on Thursday, news website Eleven Media, which belongs to one of Myanmar's largest media groups, said. Reuters was unable to determine what prompted his arrest or his current whereabouts.

A police officer at the station in Hlaing township, where the arrest took place, said Ngar Min Swe was taken to Yangon's Western District court on Friday. The officer declined to be identified and did not elaborate on what triggered the detention or on the identity of the complainant.

Police and government spokesmen based in the capital Naypyitaw did not answer several calls seeking comment.

A photo of two police officers with Ngar Min Swe was posted with a message confirming his arrest on the Facebook page he operates under the alias "Sar Min Swe" on Thursday evening. Many people in Myanmar use pen names and aliases. It was not clear whether he had posted the message himself or if someone else had done so on his behalf.