Armed Oregon occupiers to reveal departure plans

One of the leaders of the armed group that took over a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon 11 days ago says it will host a community meeting Friday to explain their position and announce when they will be leaving, local media report.

The announcement Tuesday by LaVoy Finicum, a rancher from Arizona, comes against a backdrop of growing resentment among residents of Burns, Ore., to the presence of the group, which arrived Jan. 2.

Finicum called the community meeting for Friday at 7 p.m. PST to explain why the occupiers took over the federal refuge center and when they will be leaving, KTVZ-TV reports. There were no signs, however, of an imminent departure.

"I think there should be a dialogue," Finicum, wearing a firearm and camouflage fatigues, told reporters Tuesday, The Oregonian reports. It was not immediately clear where the meeting would be held.

The armed group, led by Ammon Bundy, son of a Nevada rancher who has been in a longstanding battle with federal authorities over grazing rights, initially arrived in Burns to show support for two ranchers convicted of burning public land. The group, however, then took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge buildings and refused to leave, despite insistent appeals by Harney County Sheriff David Ward.

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