EU commissioner barred from S. Ossetia

ERGNETI, Georgia, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- A European Commission human rights official has been denied entry into South Ossetia, Georgian television reported Sunday.

Rustavi-2 said Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, was attempting to enter the country to probe reports that four Georgian teenagers were being held there, but was stopped at the border, RIA Novosti reported.

The news agency said South Ossetian officials claim the teens were stopped in the capital Tskhinvali possessing four grenades and explosive devices. But Georgia disputes that, saying the teens are students who got lost in an area close to the Georgian village of Tirdznisi.

Rustavi-2 said Hammarberg remained in the Georgian village of Ergneti for several hours, vowing to continue his efforts to win the teens' release.

Tensions are still high between Georgia, South Ossetia and its Russian allies, who fought a five-day war in August 2008, RIA Novosti said.