RUSSIAN BOMBERS LAND IN VENEZUELA Reuters A supersonic Tu-160 strategic bomber similiar to what landed in Venezeula today. Posted: 3:16 pm September 10, 2008 MOSCOW -- Two Russian Tu-160 long-range strategic bombers have landed in Venezuela, news agencies said on Wednesday, quoting a source in the Russian Defence Ministry. Interfax news agency quoted Russian Air Force acting spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky as saying "while in flight, the Tu-160s were escorted by NATO fighter jets" before landing at Venezuela's Libertadores military air field. RIA news agency said the two bombers would remain in Venezuela for several days for training flights over neutral waters before they return to their base in Russia. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited Moscow in July and said Russia's armed forces would be welcomed in his country. "If some day a Russian fleet arrived in the Caribbean, we will raise flags, we would beat drums and play the national anthem of Venezuela and the national anthem of Russia, because it would be the arrival of a friend," Chavez said in July. On Monday Russia said it would send a nuclear-powered battleship to the Caribbean for a joint naval exercise later this year. Venezuelan officials later said that four Russian warships would visit the Caribbean in November. Russia has criticised the United States for sending a sophisticated command ship and two other naval vessels to Georgia, on its southern border, to deliver aid and show support for President Mikheil Saakashvili after Moscow sent troops into Georgia. The U.S. military said on Monday its naval relief operations to Georgia's port of Poti had ended, and all ships had left. Copyright Reuters. Click For Restrictions <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".