Australia PM Gillard calls leadership ballot

 

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a leadership ballot, in a bid to resolve who should lead the Labor party into September's election.

A number of MPs want Kevin Rudd to take on the leadership.
Ms Gillard ousted Mr Rudd, then prime minister, in a 2010 ballot.
Opinion polls, however, show he is far more popular with the public than Ms Gillard, who looks set to lose the forthcoming election to the Liberal Party's Tony Abbott.
There has been no word yet from Mr Rudd on his intentions.
Ms Gillard's move came after a senior Labor party MP called on her to act, saying the leadership issue had to be resolved once and for all because it was "killing" the party.
"I have determined that there will be a ballot for the leadership at 16:30 (05:30 GMT) today. In the meantime, take your best shot," she said in parliament.
The deputy party leader role will also be decided at the same time.
Mr Rudd did challenge Ms Gillard for the party leadership in February 2012, but lost by 31 votes to 71.
In recent weeks, however, local media reports have suggested he was closer to marshalling the numbers needed for victory.