Chilean police defused an explosive device near the presidential palace Wednesday, local radio reported.

The device was placed on top of a jeep which was parked on a road behind the presidential palace. Police managed to defuse the device after evacuating nearby people and cordoning off the affected area, which is also home to most governmental institutions.

Reports said the bomb was probably installed by those who were discontent with the government's public transport reforms introduced in the capital in February.

The reforms have since triggered a wave of protests. Public opinion polls in March also showed that President Michelle Bachelet's approval rating had dropped by 12 percentage points.

Source: Xinhua