From the BBC

Howard's end? Australia's seasoned PM faces a strong younger challenger

Howard faces election year battle
By Nick Bryant
BBC News, Sydney

Australian Prime Minister John Howard

John Howard is the type of politician who would happily cross the street to pick a fight.

But his decision to launch inter-continental salvoes half way across the world aimed at the American presidential hopeful Barack Obama, may well have backfired.

At the very moment that many in Australia are questioning whether the 67-year-old prime minister might be showing signs of his physical age...

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Gus: please note the story has disappeared from the BBC website.. 

The story above is still there at the BBC but was moved from the front page, rather swiftly I thought...