Political situation in Bolivia

Coup attempt in Bolivia: The military attacks the government building

Armored vehicles have been used to attack Bolivia's government headquarters and troops have entered the building, witnesses on the ground told Reuters.

Bolivia's president warned shortly before that of "irregular movements" among soldiers in La Paz, according to AP.

General Juan Jose Zuniga confirms in local television broadcasts an attempted coup d'état, writes Reuters.

- The commanders of the armed forces have come to express our displeasure. There will be a new set of ministers, things will change, but our country cannot continue like this, he says.

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The President: The General must demobilize all troops

Bolivian President Luis Arce demands that General Juan Jose Zuniga immediately demobilize all soldiers under his command. The president says this during a televised speech shortly after an attempted coup d'état was launched in the country.

Local television stations report that after confirming the coup, the general paid a short visit to the country's presidential palace. It is unclear if Luis Arce was in the building at the time.

Former president and Arce's former ally Evo Morales calls on X citizens to "defend democracy".

"I ask citizens with a democratic disposition to defend the homeland from the military groups that act against democracy and the people," he writes.

According to El Pais, the military in La Paz's Plaza Murillo square fire tear gas grenades at protesters who shout "I fight - you are not alone".

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Soldiers outside the presidential palace.
Several countries condemn the coup attempt in Bolivia

"We send our support and solidarity to the Bolivian government and its people and call for respect for democracy and the rule of law," writes Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on X.

The White House states that it is closely monitoring the situation and calls for calm and restraint, writes Reuters.

Ecuador and Brazil have also condemned the coup attempt, as has the intergovernmental North and South American organization OAS, writes Bloomberg.

"The army must submit to the legitimately elected civilian government," writes chairman Luis Almagro on X.