SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Tuesday indicated for the first time a timetable for his retirement if he wins re-election next week.

Howard, 68, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he would step down in favour of Treasurer Peter Costello around 18 months or two years into his three-year term.

The prime minister, who has been in power for more than 11 years, had only previously said that he would retire "well into" his next term if re-elected on November 24.

Opposition Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd seized on the latest remark to renew his argument that Howard could not be trusted to implement his campaign promises.

"He's confirmed his retirement today and now there's some wobbly language about whether it's a year-and-a-half time or whether it's two years time," Rudd said.

"The bottom line is Mr Howard has no responsibility for implementing his campaign commitments because he won't be around to oversee their implementation."

Howard, who is trailing Rudd in the opinion polls, said he faced a tough fight even to retain his own Sydney seat against Labor's candidate, a former television journalist.

"It's tough, it's a marginal seat. I expect to return but I'm not taking it for granted."

Howard has refused to guarantee he will serve a full term as a member of parliament in the event he wins his seat but his Liberal-National coalition loses the election.


- AFP/so