AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2010
VIC:Gillard backs Rudd over Wiki
MELBOURNE, Dec 8 AAP - Prime Minister Julia Gillard has given her full support to Foreign
Minister Kevin Rudd after leaked embassy cables revealed scathing criticism of him by
US diplomats.
A series of confidential cables obtained by WikiLeaks and published by Fairfax say
US officials saw Mr Rudd as a "control freak" while he was prime minister and criticised
him for making snap announcements without consulting other countries.
Speaking in Melbourne on Wednesday, Ms Gillard said Mr Rudd was a man devoted to foreign policy.
"Kevin Rudd is doing a fantastic job as foreign minister," she told reporters.
"What we're seeing is a grossly irresponsible release of thousands and thousands of cables."
Ms Gillard said it would be foolish to extrapolate a whole attitude of the US government
from one cable expressing various criticisms.
She added that US/Australia relations remained strong.
One cable revealed foreign ambassador Kim Beazley said Australia would side with the
US over China in the event of war, but Ms Gillard said it would be irresponsible for her
to comment on such hypotheticals.
AAP sbl/szp/gfr/jl
KEYWORD: WIKILEAKS GILLARD
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