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Oregon stand-off: Three of four armed occupiers surrender Oregon stand-off: Final occupier surrenders after 41 days
(35 minutes later)
All but one of the armed occupiers of a US wildlife sanctuary in the state of Oregon have surrendered, according to a live audio broadcast from the scene. The remaining armed occupiers of a US wildlife sanctuary in the state of Oregon have surrendered, according to a live audio broadcast from the scene.
The militia took over the refuge on 2 January protesting about government "interference" in the lives of ranchers in the western United States. The militia took over the refuge in Oregon on 2 January, protesting against government "interference" in the lives of ranchers in the western US.
Three weeks later one of the protestors was shot dead when the FBI and police arrested the leaders of the occupation. The development comes hours after the FBI surrounded the group at the site.
David Fry, 27, remains holed-up, saying he was feeling "suicidal". In late January, one protester was shot dead when the FBI and police arrested the leaders of the occupation.
Mr Fry, who is from Blanchester, Ohio, said he "will die a free man". Just before 1000 local time (1800GMT) on Thursday, three of the remaining four militia, Sandy Anderson, 47 of Riggins, Idaho; her husband Sean Anderson, 48 and Jeff Banta, 46 from Elko, Nevada surrendered and walked into the custody of the FBI.
"Liberty or death," he declared, adding: "I declare war against the federal government because they have been trampling on my first amendment rights." But David Fry, 27, who remained holed-up, said he was feeling "suicidal". Mr Fry, who is from Blanchester, Ohio, said he "will die a free man".
Just before 10:00 local time (18:00 GMT), three of the remaining four militia, Sandy Anderson, 47 of Riggins, Idaho; her husband Sean Anderson, 48, and Jeff Banta, 46, from Elko, Nevada surrendered and walked into the custody of the FBI. "Liberty or death," he said, adding "I declare war against the federal government because they have been trampling on my first amendment rights."
The four had spent their last night at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, camping in the grounds around 30 miles south of the city of Burns on the snowy desert plains of Harney County in north-eastern Oregon.
On a live broadcast streamed on the internet, Mr Fry described how the others had walked out with hands in the air, holding an American flag.On a live broadcast streamed on the internet, Mr Fry described how the others had walked out with hands in the air, holding an American flag.
An hour later, to cries of "hallelujah", the 27-year-old could be heard saying "I'm walking towards them right now," as he too apparently surrendered to the FBI.
The four had spent their last night at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, camping in the grounds around 30 miles south of the city of Burns on the snowy desert plains of Harney County in north eastern Oregon.
The attempt to resolve the stand-off was brokered by a Republican member of Nevada's state assembly, Michele Fiore, who travelled to the bird reserve to witness the surrender along with a preacher, Franklin Graham.The attempt to resolve the stand-off was brokered by a Republican member of Nevada's state assembly, Michele Fiore, who travelled to the bird reserve to witness the surrender along with a preacher, Franklin Graham.
In the final moments of the siege activists KrisAnne Hall and Gavin Seim pleaded with Mr Fry to give himself up.
The Oregon stand-off explained
How did it begin?
In October, a federal judge ruled the sentences on two Oregon ranchers, Dwight and Steven Hammond, for burning federal land were too short and jailed them for about four years each.
Angered by the ruling, Nevada native Ammon Bundy began a social media campaign backing them and travelled to Burns, Oregon, organising meetings.
His group attracted supporters from across a number of states and Mr Bundy called it Citizens for Constitutional Freedom. On 2 January the armed militiamen took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge - and widened the range of demands.
What are the militia's aims?
It is an extension of the Sagebrush Revolution of the 1970s and 1980s that demanded the transfer of federal land in many western states to local control.
Mr Bundy's own father - a Nevada rancher - had been involved in a protest over cattle-grazing rights in 2014. One policy is to try to persuade ranchers to tear up their federal grazing contracts.
Although many local residents are sympathetic with its cause, many also oppose the occupation of the refuge. Even the local ranchers who are serving the longer sentences distanced themselves from the militia.
Are militias legal?
The term has a complex history and generally refers to those outside the official military who can be called on in times of need. The US Constitution refers to the president having command of "militia of several states" and that Congress "can call forth militia" to tackle insurrection and invasion.
Those who form such militias cite the constitution and various references in federal and state law as granting them legality.