Attempted coup in Bolivia fails as thousands of supporters of President Luis Arce chase soldiers away (videos)

A top general vowing to restore democracy, in Bolivia, ordered armored vehicles to ram the doors of Bolivias government palace on Wednesday in a coup attempt but the attempt was quickly rebuffed after supporters of President Luis Arce mobilized and chased the soldiers away.Hours after the attempted coup, after the troops took over the presidential palace, the president named a new army commander vowing not to let go of his government. The new commander then ordered the troops to stand down.Hundreds of Arces supporters then rushed the square outside the palace, waving Bolivian flags, singing the national anthem and cheering as the soldiers retreated. Army chief Gen. Juan Jos Ziga, was then arrested and the attorney general opened an investigation into the rebellionGovernment Minister Eduardo del Castillo said that in addition to Ziga, former navy Vice Adm. Juan Arnez Salvador was taken into custody.What was this groups goal? The goal was to overturn the democratically elected authority, del Castillo told journalists in announcing the arrests.Late Wednesday, Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo said everything is now under control. Surrounded by the new military chiefs appointed by Arce, Novillo said that Bolivia lived a failed coup.The apparent coup attempt came as the country has faced months of tensions and political fights between Arce and his one-time ally, former leftist president Evo Morales, over control of the ruling party. The rapidly unfolding crisis began in the early afternoon as the streets of La Paz started filling with soldiers. Arce tweeted that the troops deployment was irregular and soon he and other political figures warned of an attempted coup.Still, the apparent attempt to depose the sitting president seemed to lack any meaningful support, and even Arces rivals closed ranks reject the uprising. In a twist, General Ziga claimed in comments to journalists before his arrest that Arce himself told the general to storm the palace in a political move.The president told me: The situation is very screwed up, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to raise my popularity, Ziga quoted the Bolivian leader as saying.Ziga said he asked Arce if he should take out the armored vehicles? and Arce replied, Take them out. Justice Minister Ivn Lima denied Zigas claims, saying the general was lying and trying to justify his actions for which he said he will face justice. Prosecutors will seek the maximum sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison for Ziga, Lima said via the social media platform X, for having attacked democracy and the Constitution. See videos below   When the President of Bolivia asked the country to mobilize against the coup, the people answered the callpic.twitter.com/J1X9aqoiwp COMBATE | (@upholdreality) June 27, 2024    BREAKING:A failed coup attempt in Bolivia by US-backed General Juan Jos Ziga. Bolivia, a dramatic coup attempt aimed at President Luis Arce was stopped in its tracks. Armored vehicles smashed into the government palace, yet Arce stood strong, swiftly replacing the pic.twitter.com/ttDuIyTY3f Megatron (@Megatron_ron) June 27, 2024   The post Attempted coup in Bolivia fails as thousands of supporters of President Luis Arce chase soldiers away (videos) appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.