Bolivia’s president says the general accused of leading failed coup wanted to take over as president

Bolivian President Luis Arce says a former general had intended to take over the government and become president in a failed coup, and he denied that the Andean nation was experiencing an economic crisis. In an interview with The Associated Press, the embattled leader denied once again that Wednesday’s attack on the government palace was a “self-coup” designed to garner him political points. “I didn’t escape, I stayed to defend democracy,” Arce said. About ongoing political spats with his one-time ally Evo Morales, Arce said “we’ve been politically attacked” by Morales, underscoring a “legislative boycott” which has hamstrung the government in taking on economic turmoil.