Problem with Drop Table and Field name chage

Hi!
I had two servers of SQL 2000 with distributor and publisher mode for replications. I wanted to change one field name of a table, I did the following:
1. stopped publishing,
2. Stopped distribution
3.Re-started the servers.

But when I want to save the changed field name i am getting this error

"/*

Saturday, October 18, 2003 12:59:08 PM

User: sa

Server: SSD-SQL2

Database: PAIFORWEB

Application: MS SQLEM - Data Tools

*/

'CC02' table
- Unable to rename column from 'INWARD' to 'INWARDxyz'.
ODBC error: [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]Cannot rename the table because it is published for replication.
"

I am getting the same error while dropping the database toout when I checked the replication there is no distribution and publication is existing.

Please help, it is most urgent to me.

Thanks in advance.

Sabyasachi Sensearch for "manually removing replication" in google prior to proceeding with object rename.