Venezuelan military holds anti-invasion exercises

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has observed military exercises with planes dropping bombs and commandos resisting a mock invasion. Saturday's maneuvers in southern Bolivar state featured Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets, ground troops, patrol boats and helicopters that fired rockets at targets. Chavez often warns the US could attack Venezuela and says his military must be prepared. He has spent billions of dollars on arms in recent years. The president wore fatigues and a red beret as he observed the exercises from the shore of a lake. An announcer on state TV said troops from a fictional 'red country' were fighting a mock 'war of resistance' against the invading force of a 'blue country.'