Australia's Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd resigns

Australia's Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has resigned amid widespread reports of a leadership tussle between him and Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

He made the announcement at a press conference in Washington DC, where he had earlier met US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

There has been ongoing tension in the Labor Party in recent weeks over the leadership.

He said he was "sad", because he "loved this job", but that he could no longer serve without "the confidence of Prime Minister Gillard and her senior ministers".