Outside Forces May Provoke Coup Attempt in Bolivia - Bolivian Defense Minister

The coup attempt in Bolivia could have been provoked from the outside and caused by a desire to plunder the country's natural resources, Bolivian Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo said.

On Wednesday, local media reported the presence of the military at Murillo Square, the central square of Bolivia's administrative capital La Paz, where government buildings are located. 

The military, led by former Commander-in-Chief Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga, then tried to break into the presidential palace. Bolivian President Luis Arce, who was in the palace at the time, made an address to the nation, describing the events as a coup attempt, and created a new army command, which called on the military to leave the square. 

The soldiers complied with the order. Zuniga was arrested later in the day. 

Bolivian President Luis Arce denied any involvement or prior knowledge of a failed coup attempt led by the country's former top military commander who alleged the president had asked him to do something to boost his popularity.

"We were never informed about his intentions," Mr Arce told reporters during a press conference at government headquarters. "We were surprised."