Venezuela's space bid

Putin offers to help :

VENEZUELA: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday offered to help develop Venezuela's space industry on his first visit there, as the two countries deepened military, energy and financial ties.

"Venezuela has already entered the satellite, space race. Russia's experience is gigantic in this regard," said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during a joint press conference with Putin.

"We could even install a satellite launcher here and a factory.

We are already doing so with China, but Russia is offering to support Venezuela build its own (space) industry," Chavez said.

Putin was received with military honours at Caracas international airport by Chavez, who has signed a dozen military agreements with Moscow since 2005 worth some 4.4 billion dollars.

"This is a truly important day for the country and for Latin America," Chavez said late Thursday in a televised address.

"It is a visit of great importance. We are forging, like steel, a new multipolar world."

Last week, in announcing Putin's first visit to Latin America's biggest oil producer, Chavez thanked Russia for helping Venezuela "bolster its defensive potential" in the face of "threats" from the United States.

Caracas, Sunday, AFP