The army has begun withdrawing from the vicinity of Bolivia’s presidential palace after storming the building, which has been strongly condemned as a coup attempt, with President Luis Arce condemning those who “stain the uniform” of the country’s army, Al Jazeera reported.
During the coup attempt, the army forcefully stormed the president’s residence. A tank smashed through the building’s door and soldiers entered the building.
According to the new commander of the Bolivian army, General José Wilson Sanchez, the rebels withdrew from the presidential palace. This information was confirmed by Bolivian television BTV.
According to the media, shortly after the soldiers withdrew, police units appeared in the presidential palace area and “took control” of this part of the city.
Coup attempt in Bolivia. The President condemned the actions of some military personnel
Earlier, in a post on the X website, Bolivian President Luis Arce condemned the “irregular mobilization of some Bolivian army units” in connection with allegations that part of the army was preparing a coup. “Democracy must be respected,” he said.
Former President Evo Morales accused high-ranking General Juan Jose Zuniga of trying to organize a coup. “We will not allow the armed forces to violate democracy and intimidate people,” Morales said.
The three heads of the armed forces came to express our concern. “There will be a new government, everything will definitely change, but our country cannot continue like this for much longer,” General Juan Jose Zuniga told a local TV station.
Coup attempt in Bolivia. New army chief orders soldiers to withdraw
According to Al Jazeera, President Luis Arce called for the immediate demobilization of the armed forces, and the dismissal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, who is believed to have led the operations, along with the commanders of the Navy and Air Forces. Leaders from around the world criticized the army’s actions, describing them 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 forces took control of the political heart of La Paz.
The new army commander, Jose Wilson Sanchez, appeared with the president on state television and ordered the soldiers who took to the streets to return to their barracks. As he spoke, the president’s supporters gathered in the streets chanting the word “democracy.”
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