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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Australia PM Rudd faces challenge | Australia PM Rudd faces challenge |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Speculation that Mr Rudd would face a challenge had gained momentum | Speculation that Mr Rudd would face a challenge had gained momentum |
| Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said his Labor Party will hold a leadership ballot on Thursday, just months before national elections. | Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said his Labor Party will hold a leadership ballot on Thursday, just months before national elections. |
| Mr Rudd called a late-night news conference to announce the contest after his deputy, Julia Gillard, said she would challenge him for the post. | Mr Rudd called a late-night news conference to announce the contest after his deputy, Julia Gillard, said she would challenge him for the post. |
| He said he believed there was a "strong body of support" for his leadership and that he was quite capable of winning. | |
| The Labor Party has suffered a sharp fall in support in recent polls. | The Labor Party has suffered a sharp fall in support in recent polls. |
| Mr Rudd, who led Labor to a landslide election victory against the Liberal government in 2007, blamed factional powerbrokers within the party for plotting against him. | |
| "I was elected by the people of Australia as prime minister of Australia," he told reporters in Canberra. "I was elected to do a job. I intend to continue doing that job." | |
| "I believe I am quite capable of winning this ballot tomorrow. I believe there is a strong body of support for the continuation of my leadership," he added. | |
| Ms Gillard has confirmed that she will stand in the leadership vote, to be held on 0900 on Thursday (2300 GMT on Wednesday), just hours before the prime minister is due to fly to a G20 summit in Canada. |