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| Australian PM 'faces losing seat' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prime Minister John Howard appears to have lost his own seat in Australia's parliament, pollsters say after early vote counts in the country's election. | |
| The Liberal leader is bidding for a fifth term in office, but analysts say early counts suggest his Labor rival, Maxine McKew, will be elected. | |
| Mr Howard has represented the Sydney seat of Bennelong since 1974. | |
| Overall, early results indicate Labor leader Kevin Rudd is set to win the 76 seats he needs to form a government. | |
| Participating in elections is compulsory under Australian law and more than 13.5 million people were expected to vote. | Participating in elections is compulsory under Australian law and more than 13.5 million people were expected to vote. |
| AUSTRALIAN ELECTION More than 13.5m of Australia's roughly 21m people are registered to voteElectors will choose candidates for all 150 seats in the lower House of Representatives and 40 of the 76 seats in the upper house, the SenatePM John Howard has led the conservative Liberal-National party coalition to four election wins since 1996 and is seeking a final termKevin Rudd is taking the centre-left Labor Party to the polls for the first time as leaderElection issues are the economy, environment and war in Iraq Profile: John Howard Profile: Kevin Rudd Voters' panel | AUSTRALIAN ELECTION More than 13.5m of Australia's roughly 21m people are registered to voteElectors will choose candidates for all 150 seats in the lower House of Representatives and 40 of the 76 seats in the upper house, the SenatePM John Howard has led the conservative Liberal-National party coalition to four election wins since 1996 and is seeking a final termKevin Rudd is taking the centre-left Labor Party to the polls for the first time as leaderElection issues are the economy, environment and war in Iraq Profile: John Howard Profile: Kevin Rudd Voters' panel |
| Mr Howard braved the rain and the taunts of opposition activists as he voted in his constituency | |
| "I hope we will win. I believe we will win. It is in the hands of my fellow Australians," he told reporters. | "I hope we will win. I believe we will win. It is in the hands of my fellow Australians," he told reporters. |
| The man he has to beat, 50-year-old former diplomat Kevin Rudd, has been out in front throughout the election campaign. | The man he has to beat, 50-year-old former diplomat Kevin Rudd, has been out in front throughout the election campaign. |
| "I have to say there is a strong mood for change in Australia. People want new leadership with a positive plan for the future," Mr Rudd said as he cast his ballot in his Queensland constituency. | "I have to say there is a strong mood for change in Australia. People want new leadership with a positive plan for the future," Mr Rudd said as he cast his ballot in his Queensland constituency. |
| Labor has sought to capitalise on the Howard administration's refusal to sign the Kyoto protocol on climate change. | Labor has sought to capitalise on the Howard administration's refusal to sign the Kyoto protocol on climate change. |
| Mr Howard has campaigned on his record of sound economic management. | Mr Howard has campaigned on his record of sound economic management. |
| What has struck me most is the number of people who've started their sentences with the words 'I used to vote for John Howard, but...' Nick Bryant BBC News in Sydney Read Nick's thoughts in full | What has struck me most is the number of people who've started their sentences with the words 'I used to vote for John Howard, but...' Nick Bryant BBC News in Sydney Read Nick's thoughts in full |
| Opinion polls during election day suggested Mr Howard was clawing back some ground, but the BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, said the electorate still appeared to be in mutinous mood. | Opinion polls during election day suggested Mr Howard was clawing back some ground, but the BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, said the electorate still appeared to be in mutinous mood. |
| Many people seemed to be simply tired of Mr Howard after 11 years of his rule, our correspondent said. And his workplace reforms appeared to have alienated the aspirational working class voters who have long supported him. | Many people seemed to be simply tired of Mr Howard after 11 years of his rule, our correspondent said. And his workplace reforms appeared to have alienated the aspirational working class voters who have long supported him. |
| Labor needs a swing of 4.8% of the vote to capture the seats it requires to form a government. | Labor needs a swing of 4.8% of the vote to capture the seats it requires to form a government. |
| Analysts have suggested the race could come down to results in key marginal constituencies, including Mr Howard's own seat in Bennelong. | Analysts have suggested the race could come down to results in key marginal constituencies, including Mr Howard's own seat in Bennelong. |
| Voters in Bennelong have elected Mr Howard in 13 consecutive elections - but an exit poll conducted by Sky News and Channel 7 suggested he had lost the seat to Ms McKew, a former TV journalist. | |
| Australia's ABC News said with more than 50% of the votes counted in Bennelong, Ms McKew was on course for victory. |