Venezuela rejects US charge concerning arms deal
Venezuela refuted on Saturday a recent US accusation of its arms deal, reiterating that the country's new purchase of arms and military equipment from abroad is a "legitimate, sovereign and uncontested act."

Venezuela will use the arms for a superior mission which is peace, Defense Minister Jorge Garcia said, rejecting once again US criticism that its purchase of weapons would imply an arms race in South America.

The minister emphasized Venezuela as a country that is renown in the world for keeping strictly with the purpose of peace, "collaborating with its neighbors and with whoever needs help."

The official defined the country's military mission as safeguarding borders, patrolling and operations against smuggling,drug-trafficking and other forms of crime.

Last month, the Venezuelan government signed an agreement with the Russian state-run firm Rosoboronexport to buy 10 helicopters, as well as 100,000 AK-103 and AK-104 assault rifles.

Venezuela also signed a deal with Spain to buy transport planes, a sphalt-transport vessels and patrol boats. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made a statement in defense of the deal after visitingSpanish Prime Minister Jose Rodriguez Zapatero signed the agreements on Wednesday.

He said the military equipment will help Venezuela strengthen its defense capacity and combat smuggling, drug-trafficking and international crimes.

US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Wednesday criticizedVenezuela's purchase of 100,000 AK-47 assault rifles from Russia,suggesting that Venezuela's possession of so many weapons would pose a threat to the hemisphere.

Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have been escalating amid exchanges of hostile rhetoric, in which Chavez accused Washington of planning to assassinate him.