Armed group in Bolivia takes over military post in latest flare-up
Al Jazeera
The takeover is latest chapter in standoff between the Arce government and supporters of ex-president Evo Morales.
An armed group in Bolivia has taken over a military post outside the city of Cochabamba while holding some soldiers captive, the armed forces said in a statement, ramping up tensions in the already restive Andean nation.
Cochabamba, located in central Bolivia, is home to many supporters of former President Evo Morales.
Friday’s standoff over the military post, located about 100 miles (160 km) east of Cochabamba, marks the latest escalation in Bolivia’s increasingly volatile and often violent politics.
The military’s statement described the armed group as “irregular”, noting it had also taken control of firearms and ammunition, and stressed that such actions amounted to treason.
It urged those responsible for the takeover to “immediately and peacefully” abandon the facility.
