Australian PM defiant despite leadership woes

SYDNEY - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard insisted on Sunday she commanded support and was best qualified to lead the country, dismissing as "gossip" talk of a leadership challenge from within her party after poor polls.

There have been repeated media reports Gillard may be challenged by the man she ousted as prime minister in an internal party coup in 2010, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. Rudd has denied such any plans but Gillard backers have closed ranks around the prime minister, publicly saying she was a better prime minister.

Recent polls predicts a convincing victory by the conservative opposition in an election due by late 2013. One government member of parliament has publicly called on Gillard to step down amid reports of a potential backbench revolt.