"We expect the signing of a range of contracts" in the arms sector, a member of the Venezuelan delegation was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.

He added that purchases could include Russian tanks and submarines.

Chavez was also due to meet Sergei Chemezov, who oversees Russian arms export monopoly Rosoboronexport, a Kremin source said Tuesday.

Rosoboronexport spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko declined to comment about specific weapons deals, but he told AFP the two sides had drafted a document providing a "legal basis" for future arms deliveries.

The Kommersant daily said Tuesday that a complicating factor in talks could be Venezuela's relationship with its neighbour Colombia, which accuses Chavez of aiding the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a rebel group.

If Russian weapons surface in the conflict zone, Moscow would be threatened not only with a significant worsening of relations with Bogota, but with Washington too,"

The Russians already sold them costly MiG fighters a few years ago. They need to sell their arms to somebody and Venezula has oil and natural gas . Makes them a perfect client in their eyes.

Chavez sure is jumpy, afraid he's going to ousted?

This is very scary. It is like the cold war all over again.

I wonder if Chavez is getting paranoid since the military
leader of FARC got "hit" his computer got confiscated,
then the Columbian military duped FARC and freed 15 of the hostages.