Bolivia’s armed forces were forced to withdraw from the Presidential Palace after failing a coup.
Armoured vehicles repeatedly rammed into the doors of the government palace in the capital of La Paz on Wednesday in an apparent attempt to topple the left-wing and democratically elected president Luis Arce.
Soldiers commanded by top army general Juan Jose Zuniga filled the main plaza in the city, vowing to ‘restore democracy’ with force.
The leader of the rebellion clambered out of an armoured vehicle, telling people that ‘there will be a new cabinet’ and that Bolivia ‘cannot continue like this any longer.’
How the armed coup unfolded
Within hours, the nation of 12 million people saw a scenario in which the troops seemed to take control of the government.
But the Bolivian president vowed to stand firm, naming a new army commander, who immediately ordered the rebels to stand down.
He also urged people to come out onto the streets of La Paz and mobilise against Zuniga.
Within moments, pro-democracy protesters were seen facing off armed soldiers and firing tear gas at them.
Meanwhile, the president did not stay hidden in his palace, and also emerged to argue with the insurgents.
He confronted Zuniga in the palace hallway, as shown on video on Bolivian TV, telling him: ‘I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers, and I will not allow this insubordination.’
Soldiers were eventually forced to pull back, along with a line of military vehicles, ending the rebellion after just three hours.
Hundreds of Arce’s supporters then rushed the square outside the government palace, waving Bolivian flags, singing the national anthem and cheering.
The retreat was followed by the arrest of Zuniga, but it remains unclear where he was taken.
Tensions in Bolivia that led to the rebellion
Bolivia has seen intensifying protests over the economy’s precipitous decline.
Wednesday’s uprising followed months of tensions as Arce and his one-time ally, former president Evo Morales, battle for control of the ruling party.
The clashes have paralysed the government’s efforts to deal with the economic crisis.
For example, Morales’ allies in Congress have consistently thwarted the president’s attempts to take on debt to relieve some of the pressure.
But the apparent attempt to depose the sitting leader seemed to lack meaningful support, and even Arce’s rivals closed ranks to defend democracy and repudiate the uprising.
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