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| Australia sweeps Rudd into power | Australia sweeps Rudd into power |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Australia's opposition Labor Party under Kevin Rudd has won a sweeping general election victory, removing PM John Howard after an 11-year term. | Australia's opposition Labor Party under Kevin Rudd has won a sweeping general election victory, removing PM John Howard after an 11-year term. |
| Mr Rudd said Australia had "looked to the future" and that he would be "a prime minister for all Australians". | Mr Rudd said Australia had "looked to the future" and that he would be "a prime minister for all Australians". |
| Correspondents say key changes will be the start of a troop pullout from Iraq and the signing of the Kyoto protocol on climate change. | |
| With 75% of ballots now counted, Labor has about 53% of the vote. | With 75% of ballots now counted, Labor has about 53% of the vote. |
| Mr Howard, whose Liberal Party-led coalition has about 46.5%, is still seriously in danger of losing his own seat of Bennelong. | Mr Howard, whose Liberal Party-led coalition has about 46.5%, is still seriously in danger of losing his own seat of Bennelong. |
| In his concession speech, Mr Howard said: "This is a great democracy and I want to wish Mr Rudd well. | In his concession speech, Mr Howard said: "This is a great democracy and I want to wish Mr Rudd well. |
| "We bequeath to him a nation that is stronger and prouder and more prosperous than it was eleven and a half years ago." | "We bequeath to him a nation that is stronger and prouder and more prosperous than it was eleven and a half years ago." |
| Swing to Labor | Swing to Labor |
| Mr Rudd, a former diplomat, is almost 20 years younger than Mr Howard. | Mr Rudd, a former diplomat, is almost 20 years younger than Mr Howard. |
| AUSTRALIAN ELECTION More than 13.5m of Australia's roughly 21m people registered to voteElectors 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 (above) has led the conservative Liberal-National party coalition to four election wins since 1996Kevin Rudd is taking the centre-left Labor Party to the polls for the first time as leaderElection issues: The economy, environment and war in Iraq Profile: John Howard Profile: Kevin Rudd Election in pictures | AUSTRALIAN ELECTION More than 13.5m of Australia's roughly 21m people registered to voteElectors 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 (above) has led the conservative Liberal-National party coalition to four election wins since 1996Kevin Rudd is taking the centre-left Labor Party to the polls for the first time as leaderElection issues: The economy, environment and war in Iraq Profile: John Howard Profile: Kevin Rudd Election in pictures |
| Mr Rudd said: "Today the Australian people have decided that we as a nation will move forward." | Mr Rudd said: "Today the Australian people have decided that we as a nation will move forward." |
| The swing to Labor is so far more than 6% and analysts say it is on course for a clear majority in the 150-seat parliament for the first time since it lost to Mr Howard in 1996. | The swing to Labor is so far more than 6% and analysts say it is on course for a clear majority in the 150-seat parliament for the first time since it lost to Mr Howard in 1996. |
| The BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says this is a humiliating defeat for Mr Howard and a day Labor has waited many years to see. | The BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says this is a humiliating defeat for Mr Howard and a day Labor has waited many years to see. |
| Its supporters are hoping Australia will become more compassionate under Kevin Rudd, our correspondent says. | Its supporters are hoping Australia will become more compassionate under Kevin Rudd, our correspondent says. |
| Labor's environment spokesman, Peter Garrett, told the BBC Australia was on the brink of fundamental change. | Labor's environment spokesman, Peter Garrett, told the BBC Australia was on the brink of fundamental change. |
| "Australians have decided that they are going to throw out a government that has been delinquent on climate change, that has tried to recast our industrial relations laws, and which hasn't shown any capacity to measure up to the challenges of the 21st Century." | "Australians have decided that they are going to throw out a government that has been delinquent on climate change, that has tried to recast our industrial relations laws, and which hasn't shown any capacity to measure up to the challenges of the 21st Century." |
| Allies | Allies |
| The pledge to pull 550 combat troops from Iraq in a phased withdrawal will concern the US, although the White House congratulated Mr Rudd on his victory. | The pledge to pull 550 combat troops from Iraq in a phased withdrawal will concern the US, although the White House congratulated Mr Rudd on his victory. |
| "The United States and Australia have long been strong partners and allies and the president looks forward to working with this new government to continue our historic relationship," its statement read. | "The United States and Australia have long been strong partners and allies and the president looks forward to working with this new government to continue our historic relationship," its statement read. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY After too many years I can finally hold my head up and be proud to call myself Australian again Anne, Brisbane Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY After too many years I can finally hold my head up and be proud to call myself Australian again Anne, Brisbane Send us your comments |
| Mr Rudd stressed Australia would retain its close alliance with the US. However correspondents say relations may turn cooler. | Mr Rudd stressed Australia would retain its close alliance with the US. However correspondents say relations may turn cooler. |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown also congratulated Mr Rudd and pointed to the new prime minister's pledge to sign up to Kyoto. | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown also congratulated Mr Rudd and pointed to the new prime minister's pledge to sign up to Kyoto. |
| There were few moments of cheer for the Liberals. | There were few moments of cheer for the Liberals. |
| Former political journalist, Maxine McKew, is close to removing Mr Howard from Bennelong and make him the first sitting PM to lose his seat for 78 years. | Former political journalist, Maxine McKew, is close to removing Mr Howard from Bennelong and make him the first sitting PM to lose his seat for 78 years. |
| Voters in Bennelong have elected Mr Howard in 13 consecutive elections over 33 years. | Voters in Bennelong have elected Mr Howard in 13 consecutive elections over 33 years. |
| Mr Rudd is expected to be sworn in as prime minister next week. | Mr Rudd is expected to be sworn in as prime minister next week. |