Texas siege continues

A group of 13 besieged Texas secessionists broke off negotiations last night, just as the authorities thought they were close to a surrender.

Documents had been drafted for a resolution of the four-day stand-off at a trailer park in the Davis Mountains, but no final deal had been signed, said a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety. Earlier, seven people were detained by police as they attempted to join their besieged colleagues. The stand-off began after members of the Republic of Texas group - which claims the state was illegally annexed by the US - took two neighbours hostage in retaliation for the arrests of two followers. Both hostages have been released. AP - Fort Davis, Texas