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Australia foreign minister quits
CANBERRA: Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd resigned on Wednesday, saying he could no longer work with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, stoking speculation he will challenge her for the leadership and plunging the government into a new crisis.Gillards minority government has sunk in popularity as Gillard and Rudd, whom she ousted in 2010, have waged a personal feud that has split their Labour Party and alienated voters. They differ little on policy, but the battle described by Rudd as a soap opera threatens to trigger an early election and a defeat for Labors economic reform agenda, including major mining and climate change legislation. Senior ministers had in the past week urged Gillard to sack Rudd due to the leadership speculation and increasing animosity between the two camps. The simple truth is I cannot continue to serve as foreign minister if I do not have Prime Minister Gillards support, Rudd told a news conference in Washington. The only honorable course of action is for me to resign. Rudds supporters believe only he can stem hemorrhaging voter support to opposition leader Tony Abbott and his conservative coalition, which holds a strong lead in opinion polls. But a move back to Rudd risks losing the backing of independents who give the minority Labor government a one-seat majority. Posted by: Steve White 2012-02-23 |
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