The general who led the rebellion was detained in Bolivia

The former commander of the Bolivian army, General Juan José Zúñiga, who led the military units that tried to occupy the government complex in La Paz, has been detained. He has been charged with terrorism and armed insurrection. This was reported by Bolivia TV with reference to the arrest warrant.

The TV channel showed a video of the general leaving the General Staff building, accompanied by police officers. He was then put into a car. Before this, Zúñiga told reporters his version of events. According to him, he met with Bolivian President Luis Arce on June 23, and he allegedly asked to help him increase his popularity.

On the afternoon of June 26, a group of masked soldiers, supported by armored vehicles, occupied the central square of Murillo in La Paz, where the official residence of the president and the parliament building are located. They tried to break down the doors and break into the building.

The military was commanded by General Zúñiga. The day before, he was dismissed after threats against former President Evo Morales, but refused to resign. The general called the actions of the group subordinate to him a “manifestation of dissatisfaction” with the army about the situation in the country, and said that he would take steps to “change the government.”

The actions of the military were condemned by Bolivian President Luis Arce, who was in one of the surrounded buildings in the square. He called on the military to “respect democracy” and urged citizens to resist the “coup attempt.”

Arce's supporters tried to go to Murillo Square. The military dispersed them using tear gas.

The president later said he had appointed new military leadership and sworn in army chief Jose Wilson Sanchez, who first ordered soldiers to return to their units. After this, the military began to leave Murillo Square, EFE reports.

The Prosecutor General's Office of Bolivia began an investigation into the actions of Zuniga and other participants in the assault.

The leaders of Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil condemned the actions of the military.

The White House said the administration of US President Joe Biden is closely monitoring events in Bolivia and calls for calm.