Russia has given assurances that Chechen refugees will not be forced into returning to their homeland after announcing plans to close at least one refugee camp.

The US State Department said it received a positive response to its concerns about Moscow's intention to shut down one of the camps in Ingushetia, Aki Yurt, where about 1,500 Chechen refugees currently live.

There is an ongoing psychological pressure on the people

Joseph Gyorke, UNHCR

Earlier, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) asked the Russian authorities to postpone any closures in Ingushetia, located to the west of Chechnya.

UNHCR's said its immediate concern was for the Aki Yurt camp, which was due to be shut on 1 December.

Russia says that the tent camp is a fire hazard and that it is safe for refugees to return home to Chechnya.

'Psychological pressure'

Aki Yurt is the smallest of all the tent camps and aid officials believe it is a test case in order to pave the way for the complete shutdown of all camps.

Many refugees are still afraid to return to Chechnya.

"The Russian Government assured us that internally displaced Chechens would be offered purely voluntary choices," the US State Department spokeswoman Lynn Cassel said.

However, according to the UNHCR, Chechen refugees are under pressure to leave their camps in Ingushetia.

"I can't say that people are physically forced out of the camp, but there is an ongoing psychological pressure on the people," said Joseph Gyorke, UNHCR's regional representative in Russia.

"We are receiving reports from the field, from our monitors, that during the last days the representatives of the Chechen administration, even the mullahs [are going] around in the camps and convincing the people to go home."

The UNHCR said refugees should be fully informed of the conditions of life in Chechnya before making any voluntary decision.

Many refugees are still afraid to return to Chechnya, fearing for their safety.

About 110,000 displaced Chechens are living in Ingushetia. As many as 20,000 of them stay in tent camps.