WACO, Texas -- Federal agents said Saturday that Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh told them God still wants him to wait before ending the siege at the compound that entered the 35th day.
But at his daily briefing, FBI Special Agent Bob Ricks entertained the hope that the standoff that began Feb. 28 with a bloody gun battle might still end during Passover, a Jewish religious observance that begins next week, because of Koresh's belief in it.
Koresh and his lieutenant, Steve Schneider, and several others in the heavily armed compound spoke to federal authorities late Friday and Saturday but there was still no indication when, of if, they might surrender.
The talks resumed after attorneys for Koresh and others were allowed to hold lengthy meetings with them last week about ending the siege. The attorneys left the scene, saying it was now up to Koresh to make the decision.
'FBI negotiators yesterday spoke three times with Mr. Schneider and once with Mr. Koresh,' Ricks said. 'Schneider indicated that significant progress was made with their ability to meet with their attorneys.
'Schneider also advised that Koresh told him that God is still telling Mr. Koresh to wait. Koresh stated last night -- that conversation started about 8:20 p.m. -- that Passover would be in keeping with the traditional Jewish calendar and that things were going also very well with his attorney.'
Ricks said it was difficult to say if Koresh was again trying to stall despite progress made with his attorney.
'Again references were made to Passover and this is very important to them,' Ricks said. 'It is a time of transition. David has received many different prophecies during the time of Passover. Whether this is actually so or not, it is hard for us to speculate. If it is another delay tactic, only David Koresh can tell us that.'
But Ricks said the latest talks heightened expectations the siege may end during the Passover.
The FBI suspended all talks with Koresh during the four days of marathon meetings that Koresh had last week with his lawyer, Dick DeGuerin of Houston.
DeGuerin and Jack Zimmerman, another Houston lawyer representing Schneider, said last week they expected the cult members to surrender but on Koresh's own timetable. The two lawyers said they would return to Waco when their clients call to say they are ready to come out.
The federal agents raided the highly armed compound to serve an arrest warrant on weapons charges. The lost the surprise element because Koresh was apparently alerted by a telephone caller that an attack was imminent. Four agents and two cult members were killed in the gun battle that followed.
