Bolivia's president accuses supporters of former leader Morales of seizing 3 military barracks

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivian President Luis Arce on Friday condemned the seizure of three military units by supporters of former President Evo Morales, calling it “an absolutely reprehensible criminal act that is far from any legitimate social claim of the Indigenous peasant movement.”

In a message on the social media platform X, Arce wrote that “the taking of a military unit is a crime of treason against the homeland and an affront to the country's Constitution."

Earlier on Friday the Bolivian Armed Forces said in a statement that “irregular armed groups” had kidnapped military personnel and took control of military units in the center of the country, where police officers began to clear the roads blocked 19 days ago by supporters of former President Evo Morales.

In the statement, the armed forces urged those responsible for the takeover to “immediately and peacefully” abandon the facility and warned that “anyone who takes up arms against the country will be considered a traitor.”

The warning came after videos circulated on social media with statements from a military leader who is believed to be detained confirming the “peaceful” takeover of a regiment in the coca-growing area of ​​Chapare. The authorities have neither confirmed nor denied that he is a member of the Army.

Meanwhile, the police mobilized a large number of troops and tractors to clear the roads of debris with the support of a fraction of the military police.

Officers clearing the roadblocks found an unexpected ally in the popular All Saints’ Day holiday, as many protesters left the roads to celebrate.

The conflict broke out three weeks ago when Bolivian prosecutors launched an investigation into accusations that Morales fathered a child with a 15-year-old girl in 2016, classifying their relationship as statutory rape. Morales has refused to testify in court.

Since reports circulated of a possible warrant against him, the ex-president has been holed up in the Chapare region, in central Bolivia, where loyalist coca growers have kept watch to prevent his arrest.

Last week, 30 police officers were injured and more than 50 protesters were arrested after a standoff between security forces and supporters of Morales. But the so-called blockers regained control of the roads after the law enforcement agents passed through.

The most critical situation is taking place in the coca-growing region of Chapare, a political bastion and refuge of Morales, where his followers have surrounded and threatened to take over police and military barracks, demanding the closure of the judicial cases against the former president.

Several groups, including the mayor of La Paz, Iván Arias, have asked the government to declare a state of emergency in Cochabamba, the region hardest hit by the protests. The government has avoided sending out soldiers en masse to clear the roads. Opponents say the government is showing weakness in dealing with the conflict in the midst of an economy in crisis with rising living costs and fuel shortages.

Morales, a former coca grower, has retained significant support among poor and Indigenous Bolivians despite his resignation in 2019 amid mass protests over his disrupted re-election.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Police launch tear gas to disperse supporters of former President Evo Morales who have been blocking roads for days to prevent him from facing a criminal investigation over allegations of abuse of a minor while he was in office, in Parotani, Bolivia, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Police launch tear gas to disperse supporters of former President Evo Morales who have been blocking roads for days to prevent him from facing a criminal investigation over allegations of abuse of a minor while he was in office, in Parotani, Bolivia, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Police launch tear gas to disperse supporters of former President Evo Morales who have been blocking roads for days to prevent him from facing a criminal investigation over allegations of abuse of a minor while he was in office, in Parotani, Bolivia, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Police arrive to clear roads blocked by supporters of former President Evo Morales, to prevent him from facing a criminal investigation over allegations of abuse of a minor while he was in office, in Parotani, Bolivia, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Police arrive to clear roads blocked by supporters of former President Evo Morales, to prevent him from facing a criminal investigation over allegations of abuse of a minor while he was in office, in Parotani, Bolivia, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Dallas (3-4) at Atlanta (5-3)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox

BetMGM NFL Odds: Falcons by 2 1/2

Series record: Cowboys lead 19-11.

Against the spread: Cowboys 2-5, Falcons 4-4.

Last meeting: Cowboys beat Falcons 43-3 on Nov. 14, 2021 in Dallas.

Last week: Cowboys lost at 49ers, 30-24; Falcons beat Buccaneers, 31-26.

Cowboys offense: overall (15), rush (32), pass (7), scoring (22).

Cowboys defense: overall (26), rush (31), pass (20), scoring (26).

Falcons offense: overall (7), rush (15), pass (5), scoring (12).

Falcons defense: overall (19), rush (21), pass (18), scoring (19).

Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-8, Falcons even.

QB Dak Prescott has thrown multiple interceptions in three consecutive games for the first time in his career. The two picks in each of those games give him eight, and he had as many interceptions as touchdown passes for the season before two fourth-quarter scoring tosses to CeeDee Lamb in the loss to the 49ers. The rash of interceptions has coincided with Dallas having difficulty taking the ball away. The Cowboys have forced just two turnovers in the past five games and are tied for 28th in the NFL with five for the season.

Safety Jessie Bates III continues to deliver big plays in crucial situations to lead the Atlanta defense. Bates had his second interception of the season in last week's win over Tampa Bay and also delivered a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Bates has three forced fumbles this season.

Dallas WR Lamb vs. Atlanta CB A.J. Terrell Jr. Lamb is Prescott's favorite option with team-leading totals of 45 receptions for 613 yards and four touchdowns. Lamb's 72 targets are 30 more than tight end Jake Ferguson's runner-up total of 42. Terrell will have help from cornerbacks Mike Hughes, Clark Phillips III and Dee Alford. Terrell, who signed a four-year contract extension for a reported $81 million before the season, is tied with Bates for the team lead with two interceptions.

Dallas with be without star pass rusher Micah Parsons and record-setting cornerback DaRon Bland again. Parsons is missing his fourth consecutive game with a high ankle sprain. Dallas has had trouble pressuring the quarterback without the two-time All-Pro. Bland, who set an NFL record last season with five interception returns for touchdowns, hasn't played yet after surgery for a stress fracture in his foot late in the preseason. … Rookie CB Caelen Carson, Bland’s replacement to start the season, is questionable after missing the past four games with a shoulder injury. ... Atlanta RG Chris Lindstrom (knee) didn't practice at the start of the week after leaving last week’s game. ... LB Troy Andersen (knee) and S Justin Simmons (hamstring) could return after being held out last week. ... Rookie DE Ruke Orhorhoro (ankle) could miss the game.

A fourth consecutive victory for Dallas would be the longest in the series since the Cowboys won the first five meetings from 1966-74. The Cowboys' streak of three straight wins in the series includes two games in Dallas. The Falcons' most recent win came on Nov. 12, 2017, when they beat the Cowboys 27-7 in Atlanta.

The opposing quarterbacks rank third and fourth in the NFL among qualifiers in yards passing per game. Prescott is at 263.6 to 263.3 for Kirk Cousins. … The loss to San Francisco was the 300th game of Dallas coach Mike McCarthy’s career, postseason included. He’s the 17th coach to reach that number. His record is 181-117-2. … Prescott’s rushing numbers are way down in his ninth season, but he has at least one rushing touchdown in all four of his previous meetings with Atlanta. His only game with multiple TDs on the ground was a 40-39 win over the Falcons in 2020, when he had three. … RB Ezekiel Elliott’s rushing touchdown against the Niners was his 70th with the Cowboys. He needs two for a tie with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett for second on the club’s career list. … Lamb has 11 games with at least 10 catches, tied for the most in club history with retired TE Jason Witten. The All-Pro had his first 100-yard game of the season against the Niners, getting 146 yards and two touchdowns on a career high-tying 13 grabs. … Opposing QBs were averaging 2.81 seconds to throw against Dallas before Parsons’ injury. That number is up to 2.97 seconds since Parsons got hurt. ... Cousins completed 23 of 29 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns last week. His passer rating of 145.9 was his highest since his 150.7 rating with Washington on Sept. 24, 2017.

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson has topped 100 scrimmage yards in three straight games and has scored four touchdowns in that span. The Cowboys' defense ranks 31st against the run, so Robinson would be a strong play even if he was not enjoying his most productive streak of games of the season.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) works under pressure against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown with running back Hunter Luepke, left, wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) and tight end Jake Ferguson (87) during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) gets past Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III (3) and cornerback A.J. Terrell (24) as he runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson )