Texas police shoot dead militia man

FORT DAVIS, Texas - Police yesterday shot and killed one of two members of the Republic of Texas militia holed up in the west…

FORT DAVIS, Texas - Police yesterday shot and killed one of two members of the Republic of Texas militia holed up in the west Texas mountains since a week long stand off with police ended over the weekend, police said.

The two men, who walked out of the separatist group's compound hours before the Republic leader, Mr Richard McLaren, signed a ceasefire agreement and surrendered on Saturday, were found hiding near the group's Davis Mountains compound, police said.

Mr McLaren (43), the self styled ambassador of the ragtag group, was indicted yesterday on federal fraud and conspiracy charges for allegedly issuing $1.8 billion in worthless financial warrants to militia members, federal prosecutors said.