Russia is strengthening its naval presence in the Arctic, a senior Russian military official said on Saturday, stoking concerns of a scramble to secure rights to the region's energy-rich seabed.

"The reinforcement in the Arctic of all Northern and Pacific Fleet units is continuing," Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti news agency.

The admiral said a proposal had been made to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that battleships be deployed in Russia's Arctic ports to protect polar sea routes.

The melting of the polar icecap could open up new sea routes between Asia and Europe across Russia's vast northern fringe. Furthermore, geological surveys indicate that the Arctic contains huge reserves of oil and natural gas.

Vysotsky's comments are likely to irk other Arctic nations such as Canada and the United States, who dispute Russia's territorial claims in the region.

Last month Putin called for a "zone of peace" in the Arctic, and dismissed predictions of a "battle for the Arctic".

earlier related report
Russia to keep grain ban until at least July: official
Moscow (AFP) Oct 1, 2010 - Russia's top agriculture official on Friday said that the government would not lift its ban on grain exports before July 1 next year.

The state news agency RIA Novosti quoted First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov as saying that it did not make sense to speak of the resumption of grain exports ahead of winter.

"It is not worth raising the issue before transition to the new season -- until July 1, 2011," Zubkov was quoted as saying.

Last month, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia would not lift a ban on grain exports before next year's harvest. He did not give a specific timeline however.

Agriculture experts said at the time that the ban would not be lifted until at least July 2011 when farmers begin harvesting in the country's south and the government would have an idea of the amount grown.

Putin initially banned grain exports from August 15 to the end of this year as Russia saw its harvest decimated by the worst drought in years.