DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,
Regional organisations rally behind Bolivian authorities as troops and armoured autos collect within the capital.
Troopers have stormed Bolivia’s presidential palace in what seems to be an tried coup d’etat, as President Luis Arce denounced the “irregular mobilisation” of the nation’s military.
Arce referred to as on the armed forces to demobilise instantly and stated he would deal with the nation.
Video on Bolivian tv on Wednesday confirmed Arce confronting the overall commander of the military, Juan Jose Zuniga, within the palace hallway. “I’m your captain, and I order you to withdraw your troopers, and I cannot permit this insubordination,” Arce stated.
Earlier than he entered the constructing, Zuniga addressed reporters within the capital.
“Cease destroying, cease impoverishing our nation, cease humiliating our military,” he stated.
“The three chiefs of the armed forces have come to precise our dismay. There will likely be a brand new cupboard of ministers, absolutely issues will change, however our nation can not proceed like this any longer,” Zuniga advised an area TV station.
Former President Evo Morales denounced the motion of the navy within the Murillo sq. exterior the palace, calling it a coup “within the making”.
“We is not going to permit the armed forces to violate democracy and intimidate folks,” he stated.
Latin American leaders and organisations condemned the military’s actions on Wednesday.
“We condemned the occasions in Bolivia. The military should submit itself to the legitimately elected civil energy,” Luis Almagro, chief of the Group of American States (OAS) stated following information reviews {that a} tank had slammed into the doorways of the nationwide palace, clearing a path for troopers to enter.
The scenes have introduced alarm to the Andean nation, the place former left-wing President Morales, from the identical get together as Arce, was faraway from workplace in occasions many described as a coup in 2019.
Images from The Related Press present troopers clearing away journalists close to the presidential palace within the capital of La Paz. Armoured autos and closely armed troopers had been current.
Denunciamos movilizaciones irregulares de algunas unidades del Ejército Boliviano. La democracia debe respetarse.
— Luis Alberto Arce Catacora (Lucho Arce) (@LuchoXBolivia) June 26, 2024
“We categorical the strongest condemnation of the tried coup d’etat in Bolivia,” Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stated.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro referred to as the mobilisation a “prison coup d’etat” and European Union international coverage chief Josep Borrell stated the group of European states condemns any makes an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected authorities.