UN Security Council rebuffs Georgian separatists

The UN Security Council refused on Thursday to approve a request from representatives of two Georgian breakaway regions, which Russia has recognized as independent states, to address the council.

In recent months Russia has repeatedly asked the 15-nation council to allow representatives of Georgia's two separatist enclaves, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, to speak to the Security Council but Western council members have reacted coolly. (Reuters)