Australian Prime Minister John Howard has suffered a humiliating election defeat and the opposition Labor Party has swept into power.Mr Howard, who had been seeking a fifth term after 11 years of conservative rule, said he had telephoned Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd to congratulate him on his victory.
"It has been an immense honour to be prime minister of Australia," he told supporters after election results showed a 6.3% swing to Labor. We bequeath to (Mr Rudd) a nation that is stronger and prouder and more prosperous than it was 11 and a half years ago," he declared.
And in a victory speech, Mr Rudd acknowledged Mr Howard's achievements - but he said the Australian people had "decided to embrace the future".
"I will never take (the Australian people's) sacred trust for granted," he pledged, adding: "I stand ready."
The outgoing prime minister also appeared to be on course to lose his own seat, which he has held since 1974. If he does lose his constituency, he will be the first prime minister since 1929 to do so. (Sky News)
