Bolivian Army, Navy Chiefs Arrested For Coup Bid

General Zuniga claims the prez asked him to stage an uprising to trigger a crackdown, to make him look strong to boost his sagging approval rating

The troops and tanks entered Plaza Murillo, a historic square where the presidency and Congress are situated, in the afternoon, prompting global condemnation of an attack on democracy. One of the tanks tried to break down a metal door of the presidential palace. Surrounded by soldiers and eight tanks, the now-dismissed army chief General Juan Jose Zuniga said the "armed forces intend to restructure democracy, to make it a true democracy and not one run by the same few people for 30, 40 years." The uprising lasted about five hours.