The Unsorted BBS Collection/thegreatunsorted.tar/thegreatunsorted/texts/txtfiles_misc/news106

Text File | 1993-03-05 | 4KB | 71 lines

03/03/1993 By MICHAEL HOLMES  Associated Press Writer WACO, Texas (AP)
    Federal agents appeared to settle in Wednesday for a long wait to
the end of a standoff with a heavily armed religious cult whose leader
claims he is waiting for God to tell him what to do.
    As the siege continued for a fourth day, officials said Branch
Davidian leader David Koresh might have more than 100 followers and a
"massive weapons cache" inside his fortified compound.
   Two elderly women who left the compound Tuesday had fired machine
guns and other weapons during battles Sunday that left perhaps 14 people
dead, authorities said. The women faced charges including murder.
   Negotiations continued Wednesday. A day earlier, Koresh had promised
to immediately, peacefully end the deadlock after a 58-minute taped
statement he made was played on radio stations.
   "Koresh refused to honor his promise and has indicated he will keep
his promise to come out when he receives further instruction from God,"
FBI Agent Jeffrey Jamar said during the first briefing for reporters
since Monday. "Koresh stated he had received a message from God
instructing him to wait."
   Jamar said officers aren't contemplating storming the compound. "The
goal is to resolve this situation ultimately in federal court with no
further bloodshed," he said.   On Wednesday afternoon, two portable
office buildings were brought to the site and food for the agents was
replenished. In town, hospitals that had been advised Tuesday to prepare
for wounded were told they could relax security.
   The cult is a well-trained, committed fighting force with a "massive
weapons cache" at its disposal, Special Agent Earl K. Dunagan of the
federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said in an affidavit.
   Koresh "has told federal law officers words to the effect that they
would fight to the end," Dunagan said.
   In his affidavit, Dunagan said the two women who left the compound
Tuesday "did knowingly and willfully use weapons, including machine
guns, to commit the violent crime of murder and attempted murder of
federal law enforcement officers."
   Margaret Lawson, 75, and Catherine Mattson, 77, were charged with
murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and commission of a felony with a
firearm.
   About 100 federal agents raided the compound Sunday to serve warrants
charging Koresh with federal firearms violations.
   In addition to four dead federal agents, at least 10 cult members
were killed, a federal law enforcement source said on condition of
anonymity. Newspapers have reported the death toll may be even higher.
Officials have confirmed only two deaths inside the compound; Koresh
said he was wounded and his 2-year-old daughter was killed.
   "There are some bodies," Jamar said, but he didn't know how many. He
said three were wounded, but earlier reports put the number much higher.
   Jamar said negotiators had been told 43 men, 47 women and 20 children
remain inside. Eighteen children have been released since Sunday.
   The 77-acre fortified compound includes underground passages and
reportedly a firing range. Neighbors have reported hearing gunfire from
time to time.
   U.S. Attorney Ron Ederer said all adults inside the compound would
likely face criminal charges.
   Dunagan's affidavit said: "The heavy fusillade of bullets that came
from within the site was such that all of the conspirators were
involved." Video from the shootout shows heavy gunfire from within as
cult members fired through walls.
   "There is no doubt they were expecting our arrival," said Dan
Hartnett, associate director for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms.
   In Washington, Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen, who oversees the
bureau, said agents had received good training and displayed "incredible
bravery."
   "Obviously when all of this is through, when you have a major
operation like that, there will be an evaluation after the fact as to
its effectiveness," said Bentsen, a former U.S. senator from Texas.
   Bonnie Haldeman, Koresh's mother, left Waco on Wednesday after
failing to persuade officials to let her talk to her son.
   "I'm concerned that he is really hurting now," she said. "Infection
may have set in and he may not be able to do anything. He may not be
thinking straight. It's frustrating, isn't it?"