Bolivia: coup attempt fails, rebel general detained

Police have detained Bolivian General Juan Jose Suniga, who attempted to seize the government palace in La Paz's Murillo Square. The general was taken out of the General Staff building by law enforcement officers. He was then put in a car and driven away, Reuters reports.

Before that, the military units that had occupied the territory of the Bolivian government palace on the general's order began to leave the scene of the rebellion. After they left, President Luis Arce spoke from the balcony of the government building. He called the actions of General Zuñiga's forces a coup attempt and thanked the police for "remaining faithful to democracy".

Shortly before that, President Arce had appointed Jose Wilson Sanchez as the new army commander-in-chief instead of the rebellious Suniga. He also changed the commanders of the country's air and naval forces.

Sanchez, the new head of the Bolivian army, said that General Sunyaga was a good commander, "but we ask him not to shed the blood of our soldiers, it is wrong". Sánchez then ordered all soldiers who had been alerted to the general's actions to return to their units.

The prosecutor's office opened a criminal investigation against Suniga, who was accused of attempted armed rebellion and terrorism. People who helped the general will also be detained.

On the afternoon of 26 June, Zúñiga brought the military and armoured vehicles to Murillo Square. They surrounded the government palace and rammed the doors, and some armed men managed to break into the building. The general stated that he intended to "take back the homeland", change the government and secure the release of political prisoners. He accused the authorities of looting the country.

The President of Bolivia called Suniga's actions a coup d'état and called on citizens to defend democracy.

The leadership of the Organisation of American States, the leaders of Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil condemned the actions of the military. The US called on the parties to exercise restraint. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, condemned attempts to overthrow the democratically elected government.