General Accused in Coup Goes to Maximum Security

The Bolivian general accused of leading a failed coup was sent Saturday to a maximum-security prison as he faces charges of terrorism and starting an armed uprising. "At some point the truth will be known," a handcuffed Gen. Juan José Zuniga told journalists as he was escorted by two guards to the vehicle that will take him to the Chonchocoro maximum-security prison on the outskirts of La Paz. "The rest are innocent. They are innocent people," he added. Two other former military chiefs, including former navy Vice Adm. Juan Arnez Salvador, were taken to the same prison, the AP reports.

Zúñiga, who was arrested Wednesday after the apparent rebellion, said before being taken into custody, without providing evidence, that President Luis Arce ordered him to carry out the rebellion—something that the Bolivian leader and his government have vigorously denied. Arce told the AP on Friday that Zuniga planned to "take over" the government and become president, and he denied once again that Wednesday's attack on the government palace was a "self-coup" designed to garner him political points. Authorities have arrested 21 people in all, who were in custody in La Paz. All of them face charges of armed uprising and terrorism. Fourteen of the detainees appeared on Saturday before a judge.

(More Bolivia stories.)