Ousted Apache Tribe Leaders Remain in Charge ANADARKO, OK (kccu-fm) - The Bureau of Indian Affairs says it still recognizes the Apache Tribe's chairman and vice chairman, even though tribal members voted to recall the pair.

Three of the tribe's five business committee members called a September 6th special meeting of tribe members, who voted to replace Chairman Alonzo Chalepah and Vice Chairman Mary Rivera.

An attempt to oust the two earlier this week was met with armed resistance. Security guards loyal to them took over the tribal headquarters by force on Tuesday and handcuffed some people before releasing them.

Rivera has said the special meeting is invalid and the vote was ``unconstitutional.''

BIA regional director Terry Bruner says because of the dispute, the business committee can't conduct business. © Copyright 2009, kccu-fm