The Bolivian military has occupied the square in front of the government palace in La Paz with armoured vehicles and tried to breach doors in what appears to be a coup attempt, live images on Bolivian television showed on Wednesday.
"We denounce the irregular mobilizations by some units of the Bolivian Army," Bolivian President Luis Arce wrote on X as events were unfolding. "Democracy must be respected."
Former Bolivian president Evo Morales also condemned the military's actions on the Murillo square in the capital, calling them a "planned coup d'état" in a post on X.
Vice President David Choquehuanca said: "We denounce before the international community a coup d'état against our democratically elected government in Bolivia."
"Enough of the impoverishment of our homeland, enough of the humiliation of the military. We have come to express our displeasure," said the general commander of the army, Juan José Zúñiga. Speaking to media representatives, he spoke of "attacks on democracy" without elaborating.
