The Venezuelan government is negotiating with Russian arm-dealer Roxoboronexport an agreement to buy about 5,000 Dragunov sniper rifles -a semi-automatic, large-barrel design with telescopic sight- reported Vladimir Farafohsin, the corporate deputy director.

The potential use or distribution of the arms by the Venezuelan government has raised concerns in the United States.

"Because sniper rifles are specialized infantry weapons and not typically issued to large numbers of soldiers, diplomats and military officers and analysts said, a purchase of several thousand Dragunovs would not seem to have a conventional military use for Venezuela's armed forces," disclosedThe New York Times.

"Sales like this, and other sales of military equipment and arms to Venezuela, do not seem consistent with Venezuela's needs," David J. Kramer, deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, told the US newspaper.

"It does raise questions about their ultimate use," he added. "We're not sure what their purpose would be."

Mark Joyce, the Americas editor for Jane's Country Risk, part of Jane's Information Group, said that a purchase of thousands of sniper rifles would fit with the ongoing military reorganization in Venezuela under the government of President Chávez.