Bolivian soldiers used an armoured troop carrier to smash their way into the presidential palace on Wednesday in an apparent attempted coup.

After battering down the vast wooden doors, heavily-armed soldiers surged into the building in the centre of the capital La Paz.

Inside, President Luis Arce confronted the army’s former top officer, Juan José Zúñiga, who appeared to be leading the rebellion, and told him: “I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers. I will not allow this insubordination.”

Hours later, Bolivian authorities arrested General Zuniga and took him into police custody, according to reports.

However, shortly before his arrest, General Zúñiga claimed Mr Arce asked him to storm the palace in a political move. 

“The president told me: ‘The situation is very screwed up, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to raise my popularity’,” General Zúñiga told reporters.

General Zúñiga said he asked Mr Arce if he should “take out the armoured vehicles?” and Mr Arce replied, “Take them out.”