AFP
Arrests rise to 21 for failed coup in Bolivia
Bolivian authorities have arrested 21 people, including the three former top commanders of the Armed Forces, for the failed coup against President Luis Arce, the government announced on Friday. As of Thursday, 17 active and retired military personnel and civilians had been arrested, but in the last few hours four new arrests were made. There are “a total of 21 people arrested in the case called the failed coup,” said the Minister of Government (Interior), Eduardo del Castillo, in a press conference. The official highlighted among the new arrests that of General Marcelo Zegarra, former head of the Air Force. Zegarra was arrested when he appeared before the prosecutor’s office with his two lawyers. The other three new detainees, three low-ranking military personnel, were presented in handcuffs and wearing bulletproof vests. One of them, Sergeant Alan Condori, was driving the armored vehicle that tried to knock down one of the doors of the presidential palace. “He has put the lives of our president and our vice president at risk” and could face charges of attempted assassination, according to the government minister. According to official information, the three deposed commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force are involved in the siege with troops and tanks of the presidential headquarters on Wednesday. The plan was led, according to the government, by General Juan José Zúñiga, former head of the army, who was arrested on Wednesday along with Vice Admiral Juan Arnez, of the Navy, after the withdrawal of the rebel troops. During the military rebellion, 14 civilians were injured by pellets fired by soldiers when they entered the plaza where the presidential palace is located. Several of those attacked underwent “surgery,” according to President Luis Arce. Authorities continue with investigations and operations to clarify the coup attempt against Arce, in power since the end of 2020. “From the beginning we have stated that Juan José Zúñiga has not acted alone; these 21 people have not acted unilaterally,” said Minister Del Castillo.vel/jac/mar
#Argentina
