Soldiers surround Bolivian presidential palace in attempted coup

Bolivia's presidential palace has been stormed by soldiers as the country's president warned of an unfolding "coup".

Troops blocked off the entrances to La Paz's Murillo Square, where key government buildings are located, before ramming the doors of the main government building. Soldiers then entered the building.

President Luis Arce had earlier warned on social media of "irregular mobilisations of some army units". "Democracy must be respected," he said.

Bolivian minister Maria Nela Prada published a video on her Facebook account showing the view from a window in a government building.

“I’m in the palace of the people. As you can see this is the Plaza Murillo taken by armed tanks and troops," she said.

Mr Arce subsequently urged Bolivians to mobilise against a "coup d'etat"

"We need the Bolivian people to organize and mobilize against the coup d'etat in favor of democracy," Arce said in a televised message to the country alongside his ministers inside the presidential palace.