Regional reaction to armed forces mobilizing in Bolivia

FILE PHOTO: Bolivia's President Luis Arce speaks at a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 7, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/Pool/File Photo

LA PAZ (Reuters) - Heavily armed soldiers and armored vehicles gathered in Bolivia's capital La Paz on Wednesday, with an armored vehicle seen knocking into the entrance of the presidential palace.

The events stirred fears of a military coup and condemnation from President Luis Arce, international counterparts and top Bolivian political figures.

Here are some reactions to the news:

LUIS ARCE, PRESIDENT OF BOLIVIA

"We denounce irregular mobilizations of some units of the Bolivian Army. Democracy must be respected."

EVO MORALES, FORMER PRESIDENT OF BOLIVIA

"This seems to indicate that they prepared the coup d'etat ahead. I ask people with a democratic vocation to defend the homeland from some military groups that act against democracy and the people."

JEANINE ANEZ, FORMER INTERIM PRESIDENT OF BOLIVIA

"I totally repudiate the military's mobilization in the Plaza Murillo, attempting to destroy the constitutional order. The Movement to Socialism (MAS) with Arce and Evo should leave via a vote in 2025."

LUIS ALMAGRO, CHIEF OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

"The General Secretariat of the OAS most strongly condemns the events in Bolivia. The Army must submit to the legitimately elected civil power."

GABRIEL BORIC, PRESIDENT OF CHILE

"From Chile I must express my worry over the situation in Bolivia. We express our support for democracy in our brother country and to the legitimate government of Luis Arce... We cannot tolerate any breach of the legitimate constitutional order in Bolivia or anywhere else."

SANTIAGO PENA, PRESIDENT OF PARAGUAY

"Paraguay condemns the irregular mobilization of Bolivia's army that was denounced by President Arce. We make an energetic call to respect democracy and the rule of law."

XIOMARA CASTRO, PRESIDENT OF HONDURAS

"I urgently call on the presidents of the member countries of CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) to condemn the fascism that today attacks democracy in Bolivia and demand full respect for civil power and the constitution. The military forces have once again carried out a criminal coup d'etat."

BRUNO RODRIGUEZ, CUBA FOREIGN MINISTER

"Irregular mobilizations of some units of the Bolivian Army are very worrying. We strongly reject these acts and express our solidarity with the president."

(Reporting by Latin American bureaus; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)