Sydney: 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 was struggling to save his own seat as Australians voted for generational change, backing the younger Labor leader Kevin Rudd.

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

Howard is a staunch supporter of the war in Iraq, while Rudd has promised to withdraw combat troops from Iraq.