PORTLAND, Ore. - The armed activists occupying a national wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon plan to hold a community meeting this week to explain themselves and inform residents when they'll leave.

The Oregonian reports that a leader of the anti-government group told reporters on Tuesday that the meeting will be held Friday evening in Burns, 30 miles from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

The small group is under pressure from many locals to end the occupation that began Jan. 2. They are there to oppose federal land-management policies.

At a community meeting Monday, Harney County residents asked the group to leave, although some said they shared the activists' frustration with the federal government.