King Juan Carlos of Spain this morning ordered the armed forces to take all necessary measures to crush a revolt by 200 paramilitary civil guards, led by a lieutenant colonel, who had taken over the Cabinet and lower house of parliament, holding hostage 350 deputies, in an attempt to overthrow the civilian government.
At 1.15 a.m. today the King, wearing the uniform of a captain general, went on television - which broadcast through the night instead of closing at the usual midnight - to appeal for serenity and public confidence.
King Juan Carlos said that he had issued orders that all necessary measures should be taken to maintain constitutional order.
"The Crown cannot tolerate in any form any act which tries to interfere with the constitution which has been approved by the Spanish people."
Shortly before the broadcast, the deputy chief of the army, General Alfonso Armada, entered the occupied parliament accompanied by the head of the civil guard and the chief of national police, apparently to negotiate a solution to the parliament siege.
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