Arms, energy, oil agenda for Venezuelan leader

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez meets Russian head of state Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin to discuss the Middle East conflict, Iran's nuclear enrichment and possible construction of a new pipeline in South America.

Talks on the last day of his visit to Russia will also cover a deal for 30 Russian fighter jets and 30 helicopters worth $1 billion to replace American fighters in the service of Venezuelan forces.

The second day of his trip began in the city of Izhevsk, capital of Udmurtia republic, visiting a factory producing Kalashnikov rifles. Venezuela bought 100,000 of these arms in a recent deal. But military trade was not the main thrust of the visit, Chavez told regional representatives. Energy and oil deals between the two countries needed advancing, he said.