U.S. eyes Venezuela weapons buy

The United States is concerned about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's purchases of advanced shoulder-fired missiles, officials say.

The U.S. State Department says such anti-aircraft weapons could wind up in the hands of Colombia's leftist rebels after "credible" evidence surfaced that three top Caracas officials allegedly offered to help the rebels procure shoulder-fired missiles in 2007, The Miami Herald reported.

"We are concerned about Venezuelan arms purchases that exceed its needs and are therefore potentially destabilizing," State Department spokeswoman Sara Mangiaracina told the newspaper.

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