COLON (AFP) -- A Russian warship moved early Saturday through the Panama Canal for the first time since World War II, after participating in maneuvers with the Venezuelan fleet symbolizing Moscow's growing military presence in the region.

An official with the Panama Canal Authority said the destroyer ""Admiral Chabanenko"" reached the Caribbean port city of Colon late Friday, after taking part earlier this week in the joint naval maneuvers that posed a symbolic challenge to U.S. influence in the region.
The warship and its crew of 451 entered the canal Saturday, the official said.
The Chabanenko will take several hours to sail through the 77-kilometer (48-mile) long canal before reaching the former U.S. naval base of Rodman, on Panama's Pacific coast, where it will stay at anchor for five days.
It was the first time a Russian warship entered the canal since 1944, when the waterway was under U.S. control and Russia and the United States were allied in the anti-Nazi coalition.
""The only time a similar event took place was 60 years ago, in 1944, during the Second World War, when four Soviet submarines, after repairs, crossed the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific,"" the Russian Embassy said in a statement.
The passage through the canal comes after Russian warships on Tuesday wrapped up two days of joint exercises with Venezuelan navy vessels.
Russia has denied the exercises were aimed at any ""third countries.""
Moscow announced the maneuvers after U.S. President George W. Bush sent navy vessels to Georgia during the Russian-Georgia conflict in August, angering the Kremlin. Washington said the warships were delivering humanitarian aid.
""The main purpose (of the visit to Panama) is for the soldiers to rest and to replenish (ship) supplies,"" said the Russian Embassy.
During its stay the Russian crew will also take part in soccer and volleyball competitions with the Panamanian navy.
""The Russian vessel's friendly visit further raises Panama's international prestige as a great naval power and the Panama Canal as a truly neutral waterway,"" said the embassy.
Panama's foreign minister Samuel Lewis Navarro said Thursday that ""as we all know, the Panama Canal is open to all ships in the world,"" noting the canal's permanent Neutrality Treaty.