Hostage-holding farmers prepare for long standoff

SAN SALVADOR ATENCO, Mexico -- A state governor said Sunday that jailed villagers at the heart of a violent protest could be let go, but demonstrators said that would not be enough to meet their increased demands for freeing the hostages they hold.

Mexico State Gov. Arturo Montiel told a news conference that state officials had reviewed the cases of jailed villagers from this town and determined that all of those held on state charges could be freed -- though with charges against them still possible.

It appeared to be a possible break in an increasingly ugly standoff between farmers protesting plans to expropriate their land for a new Mexico City airport and state and federal officials.

But there was a negative response from a leader of the roughly 1,000 protesters who blocked a major highway near Mexico City and took several state workers hostage on Thursday after a clash with police in which 12 farmers, including two protest leaders, were arrested.

Want to meet president

David Pajaro noted that the protesters earlier Sunday increased demands to insist on a meeting with President Vicente Fox, on a pullback of police and troops ringing the village, and on federal farm help. Release of the 12 prisoners "is no longer good enough. What we want now is a package. If it doesn't come complete, it's not worth anything," Pajaro told reporters.

Montiel noted that two of those jailed also face federal charges, so their freedom is not in his power.

Armed with rusty machetes and three stolen gas tankers, the protesters have threatened to blow up, the protesters are holding at least 14 hostages in a town they've controlled for four days.