( dpa ) The UN Security Council met behind closed doors Thursday to discuss the crisis in Georgia, the council's first meeting since Russia recognized the independence of the two breakaway Georgian provinces at the heart of the conflict.
Russia's decision on Tuesday to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia, contrary to previous Security Council resolutions, drew swift condemnation from the United States and the European Union.
It remained unclear what steps the Security Council could take against Moscow. Belgian ambassador Jan Grauls, whose country holds the Security Council presidency, said there was no unified position after the two-hour meeting.
The meeting was held at the request of Irakli Alasania, Georgian ambassador to the United Nations.
He repeated Tbilisi's allegations that Russian action was one- sided and in violation of international law, and called for the Security Council to underline Georgia's territorial integrity.
"We count on your continuous support," Alasania said.
Russia holds a veto as one of five permanent members of the council along with Britain, China, France and the United States. Moscow remains isolated in the debate over Georgia, with several other Security Council members accusing Russia of violating the UN Charter.
"Resolutions of the security council cannot be written off by military action," French Ambassador Jean Pierre Lacroix said.
Russian Ambassador Vitali Churkin accused the United States and other Western powers of following a "double standards": criticizing force in defence of minorities in the Caucasus but applying military action in Iraq and the Balkans.
The Security Council did not vote on any resolutions, but a majority called for rapid deployment of a UN humanitarian mission in Georgia and breakaway South Ossetia.
"The reports of violence and destruction still going on are particularly disquieting," Lacroix said.