Around the World: Australia

Ex-FM Downer quits politics

Alexander Downer announced yesterday he is quitting Australian politics following a career as the country's longest-serving foreign minister and one of its highest-profile leaders of the past decade.

Downer, who was ousted from power at elections last year along with the rest of Prime Minister John Howard's conservative government, said he is in talks on taking a job as a special UN envoy on the conflict in Cyprus.