Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has defeated Kevin Rudd in the Labor Party leadership ballot.
Ms Gillard, who ousted Mr Rudd as PM in June 2010, won by 71 votes to 31. She called the ballot after weeks of speculation that Mr Rudd was going to challenge her for the top job.
Correspondents say the result is a major boost for a leader who had been facing serious internal divisions.
Speaking after the vote, Mr Rudd threw his support behind the prime minister.
A cabinet reshuffle is now expected to fill his position as foreign minister, from which he resigned last week.
Speaking to reporters after the result was announced, Ms Gillard thanked colleagues for their ''overwhelming endorsement'' and stressed that she was confident of leading the Labor Party to a win at the next election in 2013.
''This issue - the leadership question - is now determined,'' she said.
She praised Mr Rudd's achievements, saying that he would be honoured by the nation and party, but firmly put the events of his removal as prime minister behind her.
''We shook hands in the caucus room and spoke very briefly then,'' she said in response to a question.
''I can assure you that this political drama is over, and you are back at centre stage where you should rightly be,'' she said, addressing the Australian people.
Source: BBC
Ms Gillard, who ousted Mr Rudd as PM in June 2010, won by 71 votes to 31. She called the ballot after weeks of speculation that Mr Rudd was going to challenge her for the top job.
Correspondents say the result is a major boost for a leader who had been facing serious internal divisions.
Speaking after the vote, Mr Rudd threw his support behind the prime minister.
A cabinet reshuffle is now expected to fill his position as foreign minister, from which he resigned last week.
Speaking to reporters after the result was announced, Ms Gillard thanked colleagues for their ''overwhelming endorsement'' and stressed that she was confident of leading the Labor Party to a win at the next election in 2013.
''This issue - the leadership question - is now determined,'' she said.
She praised Mr Rudd's achievements, saying that he would be honoured by the nation and party, but firmly put the events of his removal as prime minister behind her.
''We shook hands in the caucus room and spoke very briefly then,'' she said in response to a question.
''I can assure you that this political drama is over, and you are back at centre stage where you should rightly be,'' she said, addressing the Australian people.
Source: BBC
