Venezuela's president looks to install anti-aircraft weapons in slums to ward off attacks
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro visit the tomb of the late President Hugo Chavez, at the Military Museum in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Maduro's decree establishing Dec. 8 as a public holiday in honor of Chavez was announced Tuesday. The holiday will commemorate Chavez's final public appearance, when the cancer stricken leader anointed Maduro as his successor. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (The Associated Press)
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wants to install anti-aircraft weapons systems in hillside slums ringing Caracas to dissuade "imperialist" foreign powers from attacking the South American nation.
The president says arming civilians and putting state-of-the-art artillery in densely-populated neighborhoods is an integral part of an ongoing defense buildup. He didn't provide details about the plan during the televised visit to a poor neighborhood outside Caracas.
The late President Hugo Chavez spent billions of dollars acquiring Sukhoi fighter jets and other military hardware from Russia that critics said was unnecessary.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Maduro has vowed to continue strengthening the military as disapproval of his handling of the economy rises.