Bolivian armed forces pulled back from the presidential palace in La Paz and a general was arrested after President Luis Arce slammed a "coup" attempt against the government and called for international support.

La Paz

Bolivian armed forces have withdrawn from the presidential palace in La Paz following what was perceived as a coup attempt. A top general, Juan Jose Zuniga, led the forces in an attempt to storm the palace, which included an armored vehicle ramming the palace doors and soldiers rushing inside. However, the soldiers retreated later that day, and General Zuniga was subsequently arrested. He has since been replaced by General Jose Wilson Sanchez.

The perceived coup attempt occurred against the backdrop of mounting political tensions in Bolivia. President Luis Arce called for citizens to resist the coup, and they gathered in Plaza Murillo, the location of the presidential palace and congress. Arce later addressed the public, expressing gratitude for their support and calling for the preservation of democracy in Bolivia.

As Bolivia approaches its general elections next year, political unrest has heightened. General Zuniga had recently criticized former president Evo Morales, who intends to return to power by running against Arce, despite Zuniga's threats to block his return. The Bolivian public prosecutor's office has announced a criminal investigation into Zuniga and others involved in the coup attempt.



Bolivia coup fails, top general arrested

What appeared to be a coup attempt by soldiers in Bolivia failed on Wednesday. A top general leading armed forces allied to him tried to storm the presidential palace in La Paz, with eyewitness video showing an armored vehicle ram palace doors and soldiers rush in. But they quickly pulled back in the evening. And the general, Juan Jose Zuniga, was arrested hours later on live TV, taken away and later replaced. A Reuters witness saw soldiers withdraw from the central Plaza Murillo Square, home to the presidential palace and congress. People continued to gather, heeding an earlier call from President Luis Arce to resist the coup attempt. This is a historic afternoon, not just because the people have retaken Plaza Murillo, but because of a failed coup attempt. I believe the Bolivian people should be at ease. All Bolivians are uniting. Arce himself later appeared from a balcony and thanked the public. It fills us with bravery, courage to keep resisting, to keep on resisting any coup attempt, because Bolivia deserves its democracy, which has been won in the streets and with blood, brothers and sisters. The president replaced General Zuniga by swearing in Jose Wilson Sanchez as the new military commander and called for calm and order to be restored. Tension is building in Bolivia ahead of general elections next year. Zuniga has recently hit out at leftist ex-president Evo Morales, saying he should not be allowed to return and threatening to block him if he does. Morales is planning a return to power by running against Arce, his one-time socialist ally. Zuniga had also spoken to reporters in the square, saying that anger was growing in the landlocked country. Bolivia has been battling an economic slump with depleted central bank reserves as well as pressure on the Boliviano currency as exports of gas dry up. The public prosecutor's office said it would launch a criminal investigation against Zuniga and others involved in the attempted coup.

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