Australian PM survives vote of confidence

After weeks of unrest in the Australian parliament, a challenge to unseat Prime Minister Tony Abbott was voted down by his ruling Liberal Party in the Australian capital, Canberra, on Monday.

"The Liberal Party has met, we have had a ballot, it was properly conducted. The result is very clear. No 61. Yes 39," said chief whip Philip Ruddock.

Liberal backbenchers from the West Australian branch of the party declared a revolt against Abbott's leadership on Friday, halfway through his three-year term as prime minister.

Abbott has attracted criticism in recent weeks over economic policy and his decision last month to award an Australian knighthood to Britain's Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II.

A slump in Abbott's ratings has also been blamed in part for fellow conservative governments suffering recent regional state election losses - in Victoria in November and Queensland in January.

Abbott recently warned against a challenge to his leadership, arguing that Australians had elected his conservative Liberals in 2013 to replace a fractious center-left Labor government, after changing its prime minister twice in four years.

Following the vote on Monday, the Australian Prime Minister broadcast a brief televised statement, in which he called for his party to end "disunity and uncertainty" and move forward.

"The Liberal Party has dealt with the spill motion and now this matter is behind us," Abbott said.

"We are absolutely determined to work for you, the people who elected us. We want to end the disunity and the uncertainty which destroyed two Labor governments and give you the good government that you deserve."

"So the focus now is once more on jobs, families, a stronger economy and a secure nation. We do face many challenges," he added.

"I love this country. I will do my best to help our country to succeed."

ksb/cmk (Reuters, AFP)