Australia’s FM Rudd resigns
Australia: Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd resigned yesterday,
saying he could not continue without Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s
support amid speculation he will challenge her for the leadership. “The
simple truth is that I cannot continue to serve as foreign minister if I
don’t have Prime Minister Gillard’s support,” he said in a late night
press conference in Washington broadcast live in Australia.
“I therefore believe the only honorable course of action is for me to
resign.” Australia’s Labor government has been torn by speculation about
whether Rudd, who Gillard suddenly ousted as a prime minister in
mid-2010 but who remains hugely popular, would mount a bid to return to
the top job.
The globe-trotting diplomat said he would head back to Australia this
week and make a full statement on his future before parliament resumes
on Monday. “In recent days Mr (Simon) Crean and a number of other
faceless men have publicly attacked my integrity and therefore my
fitness to serve as a minister in the government,” he said, referring to
the former Labor leader.
“When challenged today on these attacks Prime Minister Gillard chose
not to repudiate them. I can only reluctantly conclude that she
therefore shares these views.” Reports earlier Wednesday said Gillard
was so confident she has the support of Labor MPs she will call a
leadership ballot on Tuesday.
They said that if Rudd loses, he would immediately be sacked as
foreign minister by Gillard and moved to the backbench. AFP
|