United Nations (PTI): The UN has rebuffed a Russian attempt to allow representatives of breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Moscow has recognised as independent territories, to present their cases for independence to the 15-member body.

After a closed door meeting of the Council, its current president Ambassador Jan Grauls of Belgium told reporters that there was no unanimous support to "respond positively" to the request to hear representatives of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The discussion, however, will continue.

Moscow has often accused the US of denying visas to representatives of the regions to prevent them bringing their case to the world body. Washington, however maintains it is adhering to its obligations under the host country agreement and the UN Security Council is yet to agree to hear them.

Meanwhile, top officials of the UN told the Council that the situation in and around the breakaway regions remains tense, while the humanitarian crisis in Georgia, especially concerning the people escaping violence in the buffer zone between South Ossetia and the town of Gori, was grave.

Elizabeth Spehar, Director of the Americas and Europe division of the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), told the Council that Russian forces have set up 18 checkpoints between Gori and South Ossetia, which are an obstacle to the humanitarian relief effort and to people trying to return to their homes.

"The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has expressed concern over reports of new forcible displacement caused by marauding militia north of Gori near the boundary line with South Ossetia," she said.