BURNS - Two militants occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge issued a video appeal Monday for supporters to join them "to prevent any bloodshed."

Blaine Cooper and Jon Ritzheimer, militants associated with Arizona militia, said in their one-minute broadcast they need help. They are among 20 to 25 militants lead by Ammon Bundy who seized the refuge Saturday.

"We need you to get up here and stand with us," said Ritzheimer, who said he was taping from his vehicle parked at the refuge entrance. "That's what's going to prevent any bloodshed."

He said there were no roadblocks and a swarm of media.

"Armed or unarmed, you get up here," Ritzheimer said. "We don't want bloodshed."

Near the end of the one-minute appeal, Cooper said: "We need your help, guys."

The refuge is about 30 miles southeast of Burns. Ammon Bundy, who helped his father Cliven Bundy in an Arizona standoff with the federal agents, on Sunday explained the occupiers intend to use the refuge as a base for returning public land to private ownership.

Bundy and others took over the refuge Saturday night when the compound was closed. They have posted lookouts in a fire tower on a hill above the refuge headquarters and are housing people in the refuge bunkhouse.

Police have not approached the refuge and have not made any public statements about their intentions to end the siege. The FBI have taken the lead for law enforcement, supported by the Oregon State Police and the Harney County Sheriff's Office.

This post will be updated as additional information develops.