Two US Navy warships hove into sight off the coast of Vieques yesterday as protesters occupying parts of the Puerto Rican island brace for an expected attempt by the US military, led by the FBI, to oust them. Protesters have occupied the Navy bombing range in a yearlong standoff aimed at ridding Vieques of the US military altogether.

According to published reports on the island, the USS Bataan and the USS Nashville left Norfolk, Virginia last week and were carrying over 1,000 Marines on a mission to clear the bombing range of protesters. Officials quoted anonymously in various reports over the past few days predicted that the clearing of Camp Garcia will take place some time this week, most likely today.