Chavez accuses U.S. of spying on Venezuela

[unhappycamper]

Chavez accuses U.S. of spying on Venezuela
By Christopher Toothaker - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday May 23, 2008 5:55:09 EDT

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused the U.S. on Wednesday of using anti-drug flights for spying — and said that fighter jets are ready to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Chavez said a Navy plane that flew into Venezuelan airspace during a purported anti-drug mission was actually involved in reconnaissance.

“They are spying, even testing our capacity to react,” Chavez said in a televised speech. “We are not going to allow the violation of our sovereignty.”

The Navy plane was detected by Venezuelan authorities Saturday near the Caribbean island of La Orchila, and its crew was questioned over the radio by Caracas’ airport control tower.

Chavez said that pilots who fly Venezuela’s Su-30 Sukhoi combat jets, newly bought from Russia, were “starting their engines” shortly after the Navy plane was detected.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_venezuela_052208/