The army began withdrawing from the vicinity of Bolivia’s presidential palace in what was strongly condemned as an attempted coup, with President Luis Arce condemning those who “tainted the uniforms” of the country’s military, Al Jazeera reported.
During the coup attempt, the military forced their way into the president’s residence. A tank entered the door of the building and the soldiers entered the building.
According to General Jose Wilson Sánchez, the new head of the Bolivian army, the rebels left the presidential palace. This information was confirmed by the Bolivian television BTV.
According to the media, shortly after the soldiers retreated, police units appeared in the area of the presidential palace and “controlled” this part of the city.
Coup attempt in Bolivia. The President has condemned the actions of some members of the army
Earlier, Bolivian President Luis Arce, in a post on the X website, condemned the “irregular mobilization of some units of the Bolivian military” in connection with claims that part of the military was preparing for a coup. He said that democracy should be respected.
Former President Evo Morales accused top General Juan Jose Zuniga of trying to organize a coup. “We will not allow the armed forces to violate democracy and threaten the people,” Morales said.
– The leaders of the three armies have come to express our concern. A new cabinet will be formed and everything will definitely change, but our country cannot continue like this, General Juan Jose Zuniga told a local television station.
Coup attempt in Bolivia. The new army commander ordered the troops to withdraw
According to Al Jazeera, President Luis Arce called for the immediate mobilization of the armed forces, removing the army commander general believed to be leading the operations, along with the navy and air force chiefs. Leaders around the world have criticized the military’s actions as illegal.
The head of state also urged citizens to take to the streets to defend the country’s democracy against an apparent coup attempt after heavily armed military troops took control of the political heart of La Paz.
The new army chief, Jose Wilson Sánchez, appeared on state television with the president and ordered troops who had taken to the streets to return to their barracks. As he spoke, the president’s supporters thronged the streets and chanted the word “democracy”.
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