Bolivian police have arrested the leader of an apparent attempted coup, hours after the presidential palace in La Paz was stormed by soldiers.
Hundreds of troops and armoured vehicles had taken up position on Murillo Square where key government buildings are located. One armoured vehicle attempted to smash down the entrance to the presidential palace. Soldiers later withdrew from the South American city.
The military leader in charge, Gen Juan José Zúñiga, had said he wanted to “restructure democracy” and that while he respected President Luis Arce “for now”, there would be a change of government.
He was later arrested, seconds after telling reporters the military had staged the intervention at the president’s request.
Gen Zúñiga, who was first appointed commander of the Bolivian Army in 2022, was removed from his role on Tuesday, after he made inflammatory comments about the country’s former president, Evo Morales, during an interview the previous day.
In dramatic footage seemingly filmed inside the presidential palace as the coup unfolded, President Arce could be seen confronting Gen Zúñiga, ordering him to stand down and asking him to vacate his role.
Loud bangs could be heard in background, as the two men – surrounded by aides, journalists and armoured police officers – spoke face-to-face.
Earlier, the left-wing leader condemned the coup attempt, calling on the public to “organise and mobilise… in favour of democracy”.
“We cannot allow once again coup attempts to take Bolivian lives,” he said in a televised message to the country from inside the presidential palace.
His words clearly resonated, with pro-democracy demonstrators taking to the streets in support of the government.
He also announced he was appointing new military commanders, confirming reports that Gen Zúñiga had been dismissed after openly criticising Mr Morales.
Mr Morales, who also condemned the coup attempt, called for criminal charges to be brought against Gen Zúñiga and his “accomplices”.
The public prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal investigation, and head of the Bolivian Navy, Vice-Adm Juan Arnez Salvador, has also been arrested.
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