MORDZHONIKIDZEVSKAYA, Mar 5, 2001 -- (Agence France Presse) Representatives of thousands of refugees, who flocked from the war- torn Chechnya to the neighboring region of Ingushetia, on Sunday urged the United Nations to take control of their homeland.

Russia's administration has ended in disaster, the congress leaders charged, accusing Russian troops of genocide and ruining Chechnya's environment.

Some 60,000 Chechen civilians had been killed since the launch of Moscow's 17-month intervention in the separatist republic on October 1, 1999, the congress's chairman Ruslan Badalov said.

Many thousands were injured and more than 10,000 civilians were lost, Badalov said, quoting Ekho Chechny, a human rights organization based in Chechnya.

Moreover, some 11,580 cases were registered in the capital Grozny's hospitals as a result of heavy pollution, deputy head of Grozny's city hospital Aslanbek Asalayev told the congress.

The congress outlined a plan to resolve the crisis, urging Russia to withdraw its troops and cede administration of the breakaway republic to UN peacekeepers.

The peacekeeping force would ensure stability in the region until a popular referendum determined Chechnya's future status and free and fair elections took place, the congress leaders said.

The congress also called on Russia to grant human rights activists and reporters free access to investigate numerous reports of abuses and save dozens of civilians injured daily.

Some 300,000 refugees have fled Chechnya since the launch of the self- styled anti-terrorist operation against Chechnya's separatist guerrilla.