New York -Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili issued a dramatic call late Tuesday for the United Nations to mediate in the Caucasus republic's conflict with Russia and breakaway regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in a speech to the UN General Assembly.

Saakashvili called on the UN to denounce Russia's "brutal invasion" of his country last month and to help implement a stalled ceasefire plan that calls for a complete pullback of Russian troops from Georgian territory.

"Will this body stand up for its founding principles, or will it allow them to be crushed under the treads of invading tanks, under the boots of ethnic cleansers ... and under the pernicious tactics of violent separatism?" he asked.

Russia invaded Georgia in August after Saakashvili sent troops into the disputed South Ossetia region. South Ossetia's independence was recognized by Russia soon after the conflict, but not by other nations.

Saakashivili said that UN mediation was the only way back to a united Georgia.

"We must be ready to use the full power of international law," he said. (dpa)