Chavez: Venezuela expecting delivery of rockets from Russia after signing military agreements

Chavez: Venezuela to get rockets from Russia

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he has signed military agreements with Russia and is soon expecting the arrival of some “little rockets.”

Chavez says the rockets reach up to 186 miles (300 kilometers) and are strictly for defense purposes.

Chavez returned Friday from a world tour including a visit to Russia, where he met with President Dmitry Medvedev.

Medvedev promised Thursday to sell Chavez whatever weapons he wants. Chavez gave Moscow a boost by recognizing the independence of two Russian-supported Georgian separatist regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Since 2005, Russia has signed contracts to sell Chavez’s government more than $4 billion worth of weapons.