Uruguay has joined a string of South American nations in recognizing an independent Palestinian state.

A Foreign Ministry statement says Uruguay has communicated its decision to the Palestinian Authority.

Open gallery view Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Credit: Reuters

However the statement does not explicitly say whether the country recognizes

Palestine's borders predating the Six-Day War of 1967, when Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza.

Foreign Ministry officials declined Tuesday to clarify the matter.

More than a half-dozen countries in South America have recognized Palestine recently, though in different ways.

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay recognized the pre-1967 borders.

Chile and Peru said the issue must be worked out between Israelis and Palestinians.