THE TELEGRAPH: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is fighting to hold on to power after senior colleagues forced him to call a leadership election.
Mr Rudd was told he had lost the backing of several MPs and the AWU, one of the country's most influential unions, who were switching their support to his Deputy Julia Gillard.
Party bosses urged Ms Gillard to challenge the prime minister after he failed to secure a lift in the polls in what was considered a make-or-break week.
She spoke to him on Wednesday to demand the leadership vote after being told the majority of Labour Party MPs would back her.
During an extraordinary night in Canberra, one unnamed MP reportedly said that Mr Rudd was a "cryptofascist" who had never bothered to build support within the party and was now paying for his mistakes.
The dramatic move against Mr Rudd comes amid fears he will lose an election later this year. Labour Party MPs hope Ms Gillard, who is seen as more voter-friendly than the rage-prone prime minister, has a far better chance. >>> Bonnie Malkin in Sydney | Wednesday, June 23, 2010
