US questions Venezuelan arms deal

The United States has criticized a string of planned defence contracts, which could see Venezuela buying billions of dollars worth of additional weapons from Russia.



According to the Russian Prime Minister, Vladmir Putin, Moscow recently signed an arms deal estimated to be worth up to $5 billion.



The US State Department says it does not see why Venezuela needs to purchase more arms.



It says if Venezuela gets more weapons, the Hugo-Chavez-led country could end up in other parts of Latin America.



In the past the has US accused president Chavez of arming Marxist rebels in neighbouring Colombia.