A new centre-right government has taken office in Macedonia.

The thirty-three year-old Prime Minister, Ljubco Georgievski, and his cabinet take over from the former communists.

The new coalition government was approved by the parliament which was elected earlier this month last month - November.

Mr Georgievski said his priorities were economic recovery, better relations with neighbouring countries and full membership of NATO and the European Union.

The new government includes members of a party representing the minority Albanian population.

Last week Macedonia agreed to the deployment of NATO troops intended to safeguard civilian officials monitoring the ceasefire in neighbouring Kosovo between ethnic Albanian separatists and the Yugoslav security forces.