Venezuela plans to produce Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition

Venezuela, faced with a U.S. ban on arms sales, is planning to set up factories to produce Kalashnikov assault rifles and ammunition, the army commander said Friday.

Photo: Venezuela plans to produce Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition

The plan comes as President Hugo Chavez's government expects to receive a shipment of 30,000 Kalashnikov AK-103 rifles this weekend, the first in a total of 100,000 that will arrive this year, Gen. Raul Baduel said.

Baudel said the rifle plants would be running within three to five years, but did not give details about how many weapons would be produced annually.

Chavez has said the military and growing army reserve need more weapons to defend the country in the event of a U.S. invasion. U.S. officials have ridiculed Chavez's frequent suggestions of a possible invasion, and have expressed concern the assault rifles could end up in the hands of leftist Colombian rebels, a concern Venezuela calls baseless.

The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, citing Chavez's close ties to Iran and Cuba and what it says is Venezuela's lack of cooperation in counterterrorism efforts, announced in May that it would block new U.S. arms sales to the country.

Venezuela has called it a purely political decision, while Chavez has said the country no longer needs or wants U.S. arms.

Alexander Badistan, a spokesman for the Russian manufacturer of the assault rifle, said earlier this week that the sales contract the rifles contains a clause on licensing production of the AK-103 in Venezuela. Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport declined comment on how many rifles Venezuela would be allowed to manufacture.

Chavez, who routinely rails against the United States, has already reached defense deals worth an estimated US$2.7 billion (Ђ2.1 billion) to modernize the Venezuelan military, turning to countries like Russia and Spain as suppliers.

The oil-rich South American country has recently purchased 15 Russian military helicopters and is also considering buying Sukhoi fighter jets and other Russian planes, reports AP.

O.Ch.