DHAKA: Former Australian leader Kevin Rudd has announced his retirement from politics.

In an emotional speech, the former Labor Party leader said he had not arrived at the decision lightly, reports the BBC.

But Rudd, who served as prime minister twice, attributed the decision to his family and said it had been an honour to lead the nation.

Rudd led Labor into the 7 September general election which saw the Liberal-National coalition of Tony Abbott elected.

In a speech to parliament Wednesday night, Rudd said his decision ‘has been the product of much soul-searching’ with his family ‘over the last few months’.

Rudd also wished Abbott well, saying that being prime minister ‘was the hardest job in the land’.

Rudd first became prime minister in 2007 but was ousted by his deputy Julia Gillard in 2010.

In June 2013, with a general election looming and support for Labor plummeting, he won a leadership challenge against Gillard and became prime minister weeks before the polls.

But the bitter infighting cost the Labor Party votes and his government lost the election.

BDST: 1746 HRS, NOV 13, 2013
RoR/RIS