Paris  - Ten people were missing after a French military helicopter crashed off the cost of the central African state of Gabon, French officials said late Saturday.

President Nikolas Sarkozy has sent Defence Minister Herve Morin to the accident site, presidential officials said.

Sarkozy urged that all means available be used to locate the missing passengers and crew.

The helicopter was taking part in a manoeuvre, but further details about the cause of the accident were not available. (dpa)