The Bolivian government unveiled plans to buy Russian arms for 100 million pesos, but it downplayed that the operation might generate concerns from its neighbours.

Bolivia, the poorest country in South America, said the arms purchase should not be interpreted as a threat, as Bolivia "doesn't want to start any wars," reported Bolivian Defence Minister Walker San Miguel.

The leftist government of Evo Morales in Bolivia is a regional ally of Venezuelan Socialist President Hugo Chávez, who earlier this month said he was "preparing to go to war," as a warning after Colombia announced plans to station US troops in the country. Venezuela has purchased billions of dollars of equipment from Russia, including fighter planes, tanks and rifles.

Bolivia said it would inform the South American Security council about the operation, and it would send a note to Paraguay, with who it went to war in the 1930s over a territorial dispute.

The operation seeks to "renew obsolete material, and has a peaceful objective," San Miguel added talking to Bolivian reporters. He fell short of providing any more details on the equipment he is planning to acquire.