 with troops surrounding the doors of the National Palace and other government buildings, the man leading the apparent coup, the head of the army, General Juan José Zúñiga, said he would continue to recognise the president, Luis Arce, for the time being, but not the cabinet. President Arce denounced what he called the irregular mobilisation and appointed new military chiefs to replace General Zúñiga and others said to be backing his position. In essence, that was the moment the coup fell apart.