Bolivian police have arrested General Juan José Zúñiga, the leader of an attempted coup, just hours after soldiers stormed the presidential palace in La Paz.
Armored vehicles and troops had initially taken up positions in Murillo Square, where key government buildings are located, but later withdrew.
Gen. Zúñiga, who led the rebellion, claimed he wanted to "restructure democracy" and initially expressed conditional respect for President Luis Arce. However, he is now under arrest.
President Arce condemned the coup attempt, urging the public to "organize and mobilize... in favor of democracy." In a televised address from inside the presidential palace, he emphasized, "We cannot allow once again coup attempts to take Bolivian lives." His call to action resonated, with pro-democracy demonstrators taking to the streets in support of the government.
Arce also announced the appointment of new military commanders, confirming reports that Gen. Zúñiga had been dismissed after openly criticizing Bolivia's former leader, Evo Morales. Morales condemned the coup attempt and called for criminal charges against Gen. Zúñiga and his accomplices. The public prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation.
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