BOGOTA, Colombia 

A coup attempt in Bolivia appears to have failed after a newly appointed military chief ordered military units to return to their bases. 

Troops were seen withdrawing Wednesday from the government headquarters after Bolivian President Luis Arce swore in new military leaders in the country.

The military uprising began earlier in the day after a tank that carried former Army Commander Juan Jose Zuniga was seen forcibly entering the presidential palace in the city of La Paz. 

Arce then warned of "irregular military mobilizations" and in a speech alongside his ministers on national television minutes after the coup attempt began invited citizens to mobilize against it and to defend democracy.

"Today the country once again faces interests so that democracy in Bolivia is truncated," he said. “We need Bolivian people to organize and mobilize against the coup.”

The Bolivian head of state said the country was "going through an attempted coup d'état" led by Zuniga

Zuniga had been removed from his position on Tuesday after a series of threats against former President Evo Morales.

Arce confronted the leader of the attempted military coup at the doors of the presidential palace after armored vehicles rammed into the doors of Bolivia’s government palace.

“Withdraw all these forces immediately. It's an order,” he howled at Zuniga.

Hours earlier, Morales denounced the coup.

“The coup d'état is brewing. At this time, Armed Forces personnel and tanks are deployed in Plaza Murillo,” he said, calling on social movements to "defend democracy."

The international community strongly condemned the seizure of the government headquarters.