An attempted coup in Bolivia, in which soldiers took over La Paz’s central square and rammed the presidential palace with an armored truck, was crushed as abruptly as it began, but has exposed a looming economic and political crisis in the divided country.
On Wednesday, military units led by rogue Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga launched an assault on the government, but retreated when it quickly became clear they had little support. The former armed forces commander was arrested on live TV.
But as the government of leftist President Luis Arce announced its success in crushing the attempted coup, it has exposed tense political fault lines in the South American country and growing anger over a flagging economy.
