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CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out stepping down before the next election, a day after warning coalition MPs that they faced annihilation at this year's poll.
Mr Howard says the coalition can win the next election but it will be a mammoth task with opinion polls showing Labor well ahead.
He played down his comments to the joint party room yesterday that the longevity of senior ministers in his 11-year-old government was a weakness as well as a strength, saying there was no hidden meaning in his words.
And he ruled out handing over to Treasurer Peter Costello before the election, expected to be held in October or November.
"I have no desire to do anything other than remain prime minister of my country and leader of my party for as long as the Australian people want that to be the case," Mr Howard told Sky News.
"I am at the disposal of the Australian people - whatever they decide will be the case."
- AAP
