Australian PM Julia Gillard ousted
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Julia Gillard |
Australia's former leader Kevin Rudd ousted Prime Minister Julia
Gillard as Labor chief in a dramatic ballot Wednesday, deposing the
country's first female Premier as the party fights for electoral
survival.
The embattled Gillard -- who will quit politics in September --
called the vote after a day of internal party manoeuvring in favour of
her arch-rival and predecessor, whom she had ruthlessly deposed in 2010.
Rudd won the vote of Labor lawmakers 57 to 45 amid mounting unease in
the party over an expected rout by Tony Abbott's conservative opposition
at the national polls scheduled for September 14.
Gillard made a late-night visit to Governor General Quentin Bryce to
offer her resignation and recommend Rudd be reinstated as Prime
Minister, three years and two days after he was dumped by the party. AFP
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