The most difficult decision of my political life

"There will be naturally a human instinct to look back at people's past and make judgements about the future," he said."Kevin needs to be able to have that chance to prove himself through this period, and if we're re-elected to be able to show what he can achieve."Meanwhile, the US State Department said it was confident of a continued close relationship with Australia following the transition back to a Rudd prime ministership."Over the years, we have enjoyed a close, productive relationship with Australian governments, including those led by Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd," a State Department official said."We are confident we will continue the closest relationship possible with any future Australian government."

Under the proposal canvassed by Britain's Home Secretary, Theresa May, as part of efforts to cut immigration and abuses of the system, first time visitors from Nigeria, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Pakistan and India from November will be required to pay the ￡3,000 visa bond before they would be allowed to enter Britain.Any visitor from the targeted countries who overstays in Britain will forfeit the ￡3,000 bond.A report in Tuesday's edition of Financial Times said Cameron had reconsidered the proposal, which has provoked uproar in Delhi and threatened his attempt to boost trade links with India.Besides Indian, the proposal has also attracted criticisms from Nigerians and the federal government, which on Tuesday summoned the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock, over the policy.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, who met with Pocock in Abuja, demanded a reversal of the policy, saying that it is inconsistent with the age-long strong relationship between Nigeria and Britain.He also said the policy could jeopardise the people-to-people relationship between the two nations.In addition, the Senate also expressed displeasure at the policy, saying Nigeria might be forced to reciprocate.On its part, the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday summoned officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to brief it on the policy and efforts being made to ensure its reversal.