Howard’s 11-year reign ends as Labour Party sweeps elections in Australia

Howard, who had won four consecutive elections, conceded his government had lost power in front of a crowd of supporters in Sydney late on Saturday, saying he had phoned Rudd to congratulate him on Labor’s victory.

“This is a great democracy and I want to wish Rudd well. He assumes the mantle of the 26th prime minister of Australia,” Howard said. “We bequeath to him a nation that is stronger and prouder and more prosperous than it was 11 and a half years ago.”

Rudd presented himself as a new generation leader compared with Howard, 68, promising to pull Australian combat troops out of Iraq and sign the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, further isolating Washington on both issues.