The French National Assembly has formally recognised as genocide the deaths of more than a million Armenians living in the Ottoman empire between 1915 and 1917 -- a description Turkey strongly denies.

The vote did not have the formal backing of the French government.

But the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismail Çem, has deplored the decision as irresponsible and racist, and warned it will damage relations between the two countries.

He has also given an order for better security for Turkish diplomats serving in France, saying the resolution legitimises attacks against Turkish targets.

France has the largest Armenian community in western Europe.

Correspondents say the French vote may further complicate relations between Turkey and the European Union, already strained over the EU decision to exclude it from membership while inviting other countries -- including Cyprus -- to join.