Members of Bolivia’s military attempted to storm the presidential palace in the capital, La Paz, on Wednesday afternoon, in an apparent coup attempt led by a top general who declared he was leading an effort to “re-establish democracy.”Video on Bolivian television showed security forces in riot gear occupying the country’s main political square, Plaza Murillo, a camouflaged tank ramming into a palace door and soldiers trying to make their way into the palace.
Then, just as quickly as they had appeared, the general, Juan José Zúñiga disappeared, and his supporters in the armed forces pulled back and were replaced by police officers supporting the president.
The country’s democratically elected president, Luis Arce, even dared to venture into the plaza, after calling on Bolivians “to organize and mobilize against this coup and in favor of democracy.”
Persons:
“, Juan José Zúñiga, Luis Arce, ”
Locations:
La Paz