Rudd departure paves way for leadership bid

Australia’s foreign minister resigned yesterday, saying he was unable to continue without prime minister Julia Gillard’s support, paving the way for his leadership challenge.

In a dramatic late-night resignation speech from Washington, Kevin Rudd said the only honourable course of action was for him to step down, as reports circulated in Australia that Ms Gillard was preparing to sack him.

“The simple truth is that I cannot continue to serve as foreign minister if I don’t have prime minister Gillard’s support,” he said.