In pictures: Soldiers stage failed coup in Bolivia

Kathryn Armstrong - BBC News
·1-min read
A soldier sits atop an military vehicle
Hundreds of soldiers and armoured vehicles were deployed by the coup leaders to the main square in the city of La Paz [Reuters]

There was shock in the Bolivian administrative capital of La Paz on Wednesday, after soldiers stormed the presidential palace as part of an attempted coup by breakaway military chiefs.

There were no reports of serious injuries or deaths.

The coup leader, General Juan José Zúñiga, said he wanted to "restructure democracy" in the country and called for a change of government.

He was later arrested and is now the subject of a criminal investigation, alongside those who helped him.

The attempted coup has been denounced by the Bolivian government and several Latin American countries.

Here are some of the best images from what was a tumultuous day for the country.

Soldiers tried to enter the country's government headquarters
Soldiers tried to enter the country's government headquarters [EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock]
An armoured vehicle rams a set of doors
An armoured vehicle was used to ram the doors of the presidential palace [Reuters]
A soldier sprays people with tear gas
Soldiers sprayed those supporting the government with tear gas on Plaza Murillo [AFP]
A woman talks to a soldier
Some protesting against the coup tried to reason with the soldiers [Bloomberg/Getty Images]
Bolivian General Juan Jose Zuniga is presented following his arrest
Former army chief General Juan Jose Zuniga was presented following his arrest [Reuters]
President Luis Arce stands holding hands with people on a balcony
President Luis Arce (centre) thanked his supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace [Bloomberg/Getty]
A large group of people with flags marches down a street
People gathered in support of the government in other cities including Cochabamba [Reuters]
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