Bolivian armed forces pulled back from the presidential palace in La Paz on Wednesday evening, after President Luis Arce slammed a “coup” attempt against the government and called for international support.
Earlier in the day, military units led by General Juan Jose Zuniga, recently stripped of his military command, had gathered in the central Plaza Murillo square, home to the presidential palace and Congress.
“We denounce the irregular mobilizations of some units of the Bolivian Army. Democracy must be respected,” Arce posted on social media. “The Bolivian people are summoned today. We need the Bolivian people to organize and mobilize against the coup d’état in favor of democracy.”
Maria Nela Prada, minister of the presidency and a top Bolivian official, also condemned what she described as “an attempted coup d’etat” and the breakdown of constitutional order in Bolivia.
A few hours later, a Reuters witness saw soldiers withdraw from the square and police take control of the plaza.
Inside the presidential palace, Arce swore in Jose Wilson Sanchez as the military commander, Zuniga’s former role. Sanchez called on the soldiers to return to their barracks and for their leaders to avoid bloodshed.
Bolivian authorities arrested General Juan Jose Zuniga on Wednesday afternoon, hours after troops stormed into the presidential palace. It is unclear where Zuniga is being taken.
The United States said it was closely monitoring the situation and urged calm and restraint.
