Two Russian long-range bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons will return to base from Venezuela in four days, the Russian Air Force was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying yesterday.

The bombers, known in the West by the Nato codename "blackjacks", were not carrying nuclear weapons during the flight to South America and will return to Russia on Monday, Russian Air Force commander Vladimir Drik told Interfax.

"There were no nuclear weapons on board these planes," Mr Drik was quoted as saying.

The visit by the Tu-160 bombers is a show of strength by newly confident Russia at a time of tension with the US after the war in Georgia and due to US plans for a missile defence shield in eastern Europe.

On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the planes were in the South American oil-exporting nation to strengthen military ties and counter US regional influences.

The planes arrived days after Russia and Venezuela said they would conduct joint naval exercises in the Caribbean later this year involving a nuclear-powered Russian battleship.