Two Bolivian army leaders were arrested on Wednesday after soldiers and tanks positioned themselves in front of government buildings in an attempted coup, according to President Luis Arce.
The troops entered Plaza Murillo, where the presidency and Congress are located, and one tank tried to break into the presidential palace.
The army chief, General Juan Jose Zuniga, claimed the military aimed to create a true democracy.
After about five hours, the uprising ended, and Zuniga, along with another senior officer, Juan Arnez Salvador, was arrested.
President Arce, who accused the military leaders of trying to destroy democracy, urged the public to mobilise in defense of the government.
Zuniga alleged that Arce had orchestrated the uprising to boost his approval rating, which Arce denied.
The incident has drawn international condemnation and calls for calm from various countries and organisations.
The Biden administration, the United Nations, and various Latin American leaders, including Brazil’s President Lula da Silva, expressed deep concern and called for calm in Bolivia. They condemned any attempts at a coup and urged the protection of democracy and constitutional order.
The Organisation of American States (OAS) also declared that the international community would not tolerate any breaches of Bolivia’s constitutional order.