UN chief calls on all actors in Bolivia to protect constitutional order

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "deeply concerned" by reports of an attempted military coup in Bolivia, his spokesman said Wednesday.

"The Secretary-General calls upon all actors of the Bolivian society, including the Armed Forces, to protect the constitutional order and to preserve a climate of peace," Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

The statement came after Bolivian President Luis Arce faced down a coup attempt as the armed forces withdrew after occupying the central square in La Paz and entering the government palace.

The military uprising began in the afternoon after a tank that carried ousted General Juan Jose Zuniga was seen forcibly entering the government palace.

Arce then warned of "irregular military mobilizations" and in a speech alongside his ministers on national television minutes after the coup attempt invited citizens to mobilize against it and to defend democracy.

"Today the country once again faces interests so that democracy in Bolivia is truncated," he said. “We need Bolivian people to organize and mobilize against the coup.”

The Bolivian head of state said the country was "going through an attempted coup d'état" led by Zuniga.

Zuniga had been removed from his position on Tuesday after a series of threats against former President Evo Morales.

Arce confronted the leader of the attempted military coup in the hallway of the government palace after an armored vehicle rammed through the entrance.

“Withdraw all these forces immediately! It's an order,” he howled at Zuniga.

The coup attempt failed after Arce appointed Gen. Jose Wilson Sanchez to lead the military, who ordered military units to return to their bases.