Bolivia coup: Army chief arrested after rebellion as president urges people to take to the streets
Commander Juan Jose Zuniga detained on suspicion of terrorism after armed uprising in La Paz as President Luis Arce replaces military chiefs and thanks public for support
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Your support makes all the difference.A senior Bolivian general was arrested after armoured vehicles rammed the doors of the government palace in La Paz on Wednesay in what President Luis Arce called an attempted coup.
Forces led by army chief General Juan Jose Zuniga appeared to take control of Mr Arce’s government as they vowed to “restore democracy” but the president vowed to hold firm and swiftly named a new military commander, who immediately ordered the troops to stand down.
The soldiers duly pulled back, along with a line of military vehicles, ending the rebellion after three chaotic hours, as hundreds of Mr Arce’s supporters rushed the square outside the palace, waving Bolivian flags, singing the national anthem and cheering.
Government minister Eduardo del Castillo said former Vice Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador was also taken into custody.
“What was this group’s goal? The goal was to overturn the democratically elected authority,” Mr del Castillo told journalists in announcing the arrests.
The apparent coup attempt came after the South American nation of 12m people faced months of tensions between Mr Arce and his one-time ally, former leftist president Evo Morales, over control of the ruling party.
It also came amid a severe economic crisis.
Eight injured in protests following coup attempt
Bolivia’s minister of health, Maria Renee Castro, said eight people had been injured due to impact from pellets following the coup attempt and ensuing civilian protests.
Civilians gathered in protest as hooded and armed individuals surrounded the square, leading to clashes and injuries, the daily La Razon reported.
Now-sacked general Juan Jose Zuniga, who led the coup attempt, was later detained.
Army general presented arrives at first hearing after attempted coup
Here we have some background on the coup attempt
The apparent coup attempt in Bolivia comes after the nation of 12 million people faced months of tensions between president Luis Arce and his one-time ally, former leftist president Evo Morales, over control of the ruling party.
These tenions have been worsened by a severe economic crisis that has left many Bolivians struggling with a cost of living crisis.
The clashes have paralysed the government's efforts to deal with the economic crisis. Mr Morales's allies in Congress have consistently thwarted Mr Arce's attempts to take on debt to relieve some of the pressure.
Dismissed army chief General Juan Jose Zuniga, who initiated the coup attempt, referenced that paralysis during the rebellion, telling reporters the military was tired of the infighting and was seeking "to restore democracy".
"We are listening to the cry of the people because for many years an elite has taken control of the country," he said, adding that politicians are "destroying the country: look at what situation we are in, what crisis they have left us in.
"The armed forces intend to restore the democracy, to make it a true democracy."
A second military official is detained following coup attempt
Kremlin says it hopes calm can be restored in Bolivia after attempted coup
The Kremlin has said it hoped calm would be restored in Bolivia in the wake of an attempted coup, after the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the plotters and expressed Moscow’s support for the government of President Luis Arce.
Bolivian armed forces pulled back from the presidential palace in La Paz on Wednesday evening and a general was arrested after Arce slammed a “coup” attempt against the government and called for international support.
“This is an internal Bolivian affair. It is very important that our Bolivian friends deal with their own problems within the framework of constitutional legality,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“We wish that country a speedy return to calm, and we hope that this will be the case. Of course, it is very important that there was no interference by third countries in what happened in Bolivia.”
Bolivian president appears at government palace after failed coup
We have some photos of the pro-government protesters
Below we have some photos showing pro-goverment protesters celebrating outside the palace where a military group tried to stage a coup on Wednesday.
Watch live scenes from Bolivia after attempted coup to overthrow president Luis Arce
Watch live scenes from Bolivia after attempted coup to overthrow president Luis Arce
Watch live scenes from Bolivia on Thursday (27 June) after an attempted coup to overthrow president Luis Arce.
Bolivia crushes attempted coup as president asks citizens to take to the streets
Bolivia coup attempt thwarted after president asks citizens to take to the streets
Rebel troops briefly enter political heart of Bolivian government as coup narrowly avoided
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