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New Australian PM signals
Iraq pullout
Paul Ham
London
Times
Sunday November 25, 2007
AUSTRALIA’S new prime minister Kevin Rudd will
mark his arrival on the international stage by announcing the
withdrawal of his country’s combat troops from Iraq and
signing the Kyoto treaty on climate change.
Rudd, a republican and former diplomat, swept to power as his
Labor party stormed to a landslide victory in yesterday’s
elections.
Official figures showed Labor had won more than 53% of the vote,
compared with just under 47% for the ruling Liberal coalition
of John Howard, who had served four terms as prime minister but
lost his seat. Computer projections forecast that Labor would
secure 86 seats in the 150-seat lower house of parliament.
Rudd, 50, who has been called a “Tone Clone” for
his similarities to Tony Blair on policy, told cheering supporters
that the electorate had decided to “write a new page in
our nation’s history”.
(Article continues below)
Howard, who dominated Australia’s political scene for more
than a decade, was accused of misreading the mood of voters who
wanted change despite a booming economy.
Clearly shaken by the scale of the defeat Howard, 68, told demoralised
supporters that he may soon retire. “This is a great democracy
and I want to wish Mr Rudd well,” Howard said. “We
bequeath to him a nation that is stronger and prouder and more
prosperous than it was 11½ years ago.”
Full
article here.
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INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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