Australian PM Howard concedes election defeat

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister John Howard conceded defeat at national elections on Saturday as the Labor opposition swept to power ending 11 years of conservative rule.

Howard, a close U.S. ally and staunch supporter of the war in Iraq, was struggling to save his own seat as Australians voted for generational change, backing the younger Labor leader Kevin Rudd, who has promised to withdraw combat troops from Iraq.

"This is a great democracy and I want to wish Mr. Rudd well," Howard told supporters.

(Reporting by Michael Perry)