Bolivian police detain the coup attempt commander

Hours after troops seized the presidential palace in the capital city of La Paz, Bolivian police detained the leader of an attempted coup.

Troops and armored vehicles also took up positions in Murillo Square, the location of important government buildings. It is now said that they have started to retreat.

General Juan José Zúñiga, the rebel military commander in charge, had said that he intended to "restructure democracy" and that while he now respected President Luis Arce, there would be a change of leadership. Right now, he's being held under arrest.

In his denunciation of the coup attempt, President Luis Arce urged the populace to "organize and mobilize... in favor of democracy."

"We cannot allow coup attempts to take Bolivian lives once more," he said inside the presidential palace in a televised address to the nation.

In addition, he said that he would be designating new military leaders, validating rumors that Gen. Zúñiga had been fired for publicly criticizing Bolivia's previous leader, Evo Morales.

In addition, Mr. Morales denounced the coup attempt and demanded that Gen. Zúñiga and his "accomplices" face legal consequences.

The office of the public prosecutor said that a criminal inquiry would begin.

After forces captured Murillo Square, Gen. Zúñiga said, "We are going to recover this homeland," while speaking from there.

"An elite has taken over the country, vandals who have destroyed the country."

Gen. Zúñiga also declared the release of "political prisoners," which included the imprisoned former leader Jeanine Áñez.

On Monday, Gen. Zúñiga made an appearance on television, threatening to arrest Mr. Morales should he run for office again the following year, even though he is not allowed to.

Amid demonstrations over claims of vote-rigging in the 2019 election, Mr. Morales resigned as president and was replaced by Ms. Áñez. Mr. Morales also called for proponents of democracy to go on strike and block roadways.

Although both Mr. Morales and Mr. Arce belong to the same socialist organization, they were formerly partners, but their political differences have grown. Currently, Mr. Morales is against Mr. Arce.

International criticism of the coup attempt was expressed by a number of Latin American nations.

A "strongest condemnation of the attempted coup" was issued by the president of Mexico, while the leader of neighboring Paraguay made a "energetic call to respect democracy and the rule of law".

The United States said it was keeping a careful eye on events in Bolivia and advised moderation.

Josep Borrell, the head of the European Union's foreign policy, posted on social media, saying, "The European Union condemns any attempt to disrupt the constitutional order in Bolivia."

After a period of unrest after the 2019 election, Mr. Arce was elected.

After taking office in 2005, Mr. Morales—the first president to come from Bolivia's indigenous majority—implemented a bold agenda designed to address the country's enormous socioeconomic divides and inequality.

In an effort to circumvent the constitution and run for a fourth term in office, the previous head of the Coca-Cola Union resigned in 2019. In November 2019, Ms. Áñez proclaimed herself the temporary president and replaced him.

But a year later, in a rerun of the 2019 election, Mr. Arce prevailed, bringing the socialist Mas party back to power. Ms. Áñez received a ten-year prison term for "decisions contrary to the constitution".