The United States has recognizedthe former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia as "Republic of Macedonia", local mass media reported on Thursday.

"We have decided to refer to FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) from now on as 'Republic of Macedonia,'" an unidentified US government official was quoted as saying.

The official said that US Secretary of State Colin Powell had signed off on the move, which took effect on Wednesday.

Macedonia, which won independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, is amember of the US-led military alliance in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua