Myanmar

Reuters could not independently verify the reports and a military spokesman did not answer a phone call seeking comment.

Wai Moe Naing, a 25-year-old Muslim, has emerged as one of the most high-profile leaders of opposition to the Feb. 1 coup that overhrew an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

A founder of the group said her United Defense Force was made up of protesters against the Feb. 1 coup who had fled crackdowns in which hundreds of demonstrators have been killed by security forces.

Myanmar's army made no immediate comment. It historically proclaimed itself the one institution that can keep the multi-ethnic country of over 53 million people together.

BBC Burmese quoted a witness as saying the reporter was taken into custody by troops on Sunday night. He was asked to raise both hands and was taken away in a car, it said.

State media said a famous actor, Zin Wine, and singer Po Po, both known for their support of the democracy movement, had also been arrested.

More than 600 people have been killed by the military in the crackdown on protests against the coup.

Fighting continued into Thursday morning and at least 11 protesters were killed and about 20 wounded, the media said. There was no word of any casualties among the soldiers.

The ambassador said he was locked out when he spoke to local media, describing the incident as "a kind of coup, in the middle of London.”

In a transcript of an interview made available late Thursday, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan expressed dismay at the bloodshed.