France and Russia in deal

French defence officials say France has agreed to sell Russia an advanced warship and is considering a request from Moscow for three others.

Analysts say the deal, which would increase Russia's capacity to launch amphibious offensives, will alarm ex-Soviet states such as Georgia.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy had approved the sale of one Mistral, but Moscow naval officials had then asked for a further three ships, said Jacques de Lajugie of the French arms agency DGA.
It remains unclear when or where the 23,000-tonne Mistral class warship will be built.