Sydney, Rabi'II 5, 1433, Feb 27, 2012, SPA - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard claimed a mandate to lead the Labor Party at next year's election after easily beating Kevin Rudd in a caucus ballot Monday. Gillard, Rudd's deputy when she deposed him in June 2010, won 71 of the 102 votes cast, according to a report of DPA. Rudd, who resigned as foreign minister last week, pledged not to challenge her again and vowed to make "every effort into securing Julia Gillard's re-election as Labor prime minister at the next election." --SPA 13:00 LOCAL TIME 10:00 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/974208