Australia Prime Minister Survives Leadership Challenge

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott survived a leadership challenge from within his own Liberal Party on Monday by a vote of 61 to 39, reports from the region said. The vote had been slated for Tuesday but was moved up by a day, with the motion against Abbott having been filed Friday by a Western Australia member of parliament. Reuters cited Abbott's decision to award Australian knighthood to Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip, as one of the issues that brought the challenge. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull was one name mentioned in reports as a possible replacement for Abbott.