Myanmar's junta and the Taliban authorities of Afghanistan yesterday slammed the United Nations for denying their chosen representatives seats at the world body.

The committee responsible for approving nominations of ambassadors met Wednesday but deferred a decision over rival claims to the seats for both countries, diplomats said.

The deferral keeps in place envoys appointed to the UN by former governments in both nations before they were toppled -- by a coup in Myanmar in February and the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan in August.

"This decision does not reflect the reality on the ground and existence of our country," Myanmar junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told AFP. "We will continue submitting (to the UN) as usual according to diplomatic procedure." he added.