First direct talks in Waco siege

WACO (Reuter) - Members of a besieged Texas cult and a federal agent have held the first face-to-face negotiations in the 17-day stand- off, the FBI said yesterday.

Yesterday's discussions were on various matters, including the physical condition of some of the people inside, legal representation and messages to cult members from people outside.

The siege started when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms stormed the compound to serve warrants for weapons violations. Four federal agents and an undetermined number of cult members died in the ensuing shoot-out.