GUWAHATI, Nov 11:A senior United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) leader who identified himself as the outfit's foreign ``ambassador'' was arrested by the police at Dhemaji in upper Assam on Sunday, a delayed report reaching here said.

The militant, Barun Sonowal alias Birendra Singh Thapa alias Brownson Marquary, aged 36, was picked up from a bus station while he was about to board a night bus to Guwahati.

The militant is stated to have confessed that he was appointed foreign ``ambassador'' in March this year by ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, and that he had toured Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan during the past few months. Meanwhile, a tea garden manager, Guru Singh Siddhu, has been kidnapped by unidentified militants from Umrangshu in Assam's north Cachar hills district. Official sources today said Siddhu was abducted last night. Further details were awaited.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.