A group of self-styled militiamen occupying the headquarters of a U.S. national wildlife refuge in eastern Oregon to protest the imminent imprisonment of two ranchers took to social media on Monday to drum up support for their cause.

As the standoff with law enforcement authorities entered its third day, the group's leader, Ammon Bundy, was active on Twitter.

"As I said on @CNN this morning, I love my wife & family," said one recent post that was retweeted 76 times. "I have no plans nor desire to die. We are peaceful people. #OccupyMalheur."