MAGAS, February 20 (RIA Novosti, Yekaterina Andrianova) - The parliament of Ingushetia, a republic in Russia's North Caucasus has called on the United Nations' human rights chief to provide diplomatic assistance in overcoming the consequences of a conflict that took place between the republic and neighboring North Ossetia in 1992.

During her visit to Ingushetia, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour met with the republic's People's Assembly chairman Mahmud Sakalov and representatives of public organizations. At the meeting, Arbour said she was surprised at how broadly civil society was represented.

The conflict forced tens of thousands of Ingush to flee from their homes in the Prigorodny District of North Ossetia in late October 1992 after illegal armed formations from Nazran (the Ingush capital until 2002) launched an assault on the territory of North Ossetia.

Parliamentarians and human rights advocates urged Arbour to help resolve the conflict, and reiterated their opposition to the establishment of new settlements for Ingush refugees on North Ossetian territory, as former residents of those who formerly lived in Prigorodny want to return to their homes.

The participants in the meeting said they did not want to live in "reservations", but wanted to return to where "their ancestors were buried", and receive compensation for moral and material damage.

Earlier on Monday, Arbour visited a camp for forced migrants from Chechnya and North Ossetia near Nazran. She said she planned to meet with President Murat Zyazikov in the evening, and visit Chechnya on Tuesday.

On Sunday, Arbour met with NGO representatives and human rights activists in Moscow to discuss racial intolerance, xenophobia, judicial system independence, and discipline in the Russian armed forces.

Source: The Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti