Sources say authorities in Myanmar have detained Britain's former ambassador to the Southeast Asian country and her husband, a Myanmar national.

The sources say security officials took into custody Vicky Bowman and the artist and former pro-democracy activist Htein Lin in the country's largest city of Yangon on Wednesday.

Myanmar's ruling military said on Thursday that officials are investigating the couple on suspicion of violating the immigration law. It alleges that Bowman failed to declare a change in her address, while her husband facilitated her violations.

Bowman served as Britain's ambassador to Myanmar from 2002 to 2006 and currently heads an organization that advises businesses on human rights.

Bowman is the latest foreigner known to be detained in Myanmar. Japanese journalist Kubota Toru was taken into custody in the country last month and is now facing charges that include violating the immigration law.

Myanmar authorities say Kubota entered the country on a tourist visa. Security forces detained him while he was filming an anti-military protest in Yangon on July 30.