Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd resigns as Foreign Minister after "attacks on credibility".

Kevin Rudd has announced this afternoon at a Washington press conference his resignation as Australia's foreign Minister.

Mr Rudd says he'll return to Brisbane on Friday and will make a full statement on his future before parliament resumes on Monday after consulting with family and colleagues.



"While I am sad to leave this office I am sadder still that it has come to this," Mr Rudd said.

He said a number of ministers and "faceless men" had publicly attacked his credibility.



Mr Rudd's decision comes after four days of frantic speculation he was threatening Prime Minister Julia Gillard's authority.



Senior Labor figures had today urged Ms Gillard to bring the leadership to a head.



Mr Rudd said the Australian people regarded the speculation as little more than a soap opera.



"They are right," he said.



"Under the current circumstances, I won't be a part of it."



To continue in the job, would mean be distracting for the government, Mr Rudd said.



"The simple truth is I cannot continue to serve as foreign minister if I do not have Prime Minister Gillard's support," he said.



"I therefore believe the only honourable thing, and the only honourable course of action, is for me to resign."



Australia must be governed by the people, not party factions, Mr Rudd said.



"I promise you this - there is no way, no way, that I will ever be part of a stealth attack on a sitting prime minister elected by the people," he said.



"We all know that what happened then was wrong and it must never happen again."

Mr Rudd said it was now up to caucus to decide on the leadership.



"There is one overriding question for my caucus colleagues and that is who is best placed to defeat Tony Abbott at the next election," Mr Rudd said.



"Mr Abbott, I believe, does not have the temperament or the experience to ever be elected to hold the high office of prime minister of Australia.



"But at present and for a long time now he has been on track just to do that."



Mr Rudd thanked his family for their support.



Mr Rudd said he had few options in announcing his resignation overseas.



"The truth is I feel very uncomfortable doing this from Washington and not in Australia," Mr Rudd said.



"But I don't feel like I have a choice given the responsibilities over the days ahead."



Mr Rudd said the ongoing leadership speculation about the federal party was hurting Labor's prospects in the coming Queensland election.



He said the saga was bad for his friend, Queensland premier Anna Bligh.



"I believe the good people of Queensland deserve some clear space over the coming month as they make up their minds on a very important decision on the future of Queensland, my home state,'' he said.



Mr Rudd's daughter Jessica tweeted: "Effing proud of you, Dad xxxx".



His wife Therese Rein responded: "Me too, Kevin xxxx".

Mr Rudd said he would fly out of Washington on Wednesday and arrive home in Brisbane on Friday morning.



Other Australian officials would replace him at the scheduled international events.



"Under no circumstances do I want Australia's international reputation brought into disrepute because of this ongoing saga," Mr Rudd said.



"Therefore, Ambassador (Kim) Beazley will discharge my functions here on my behalf in Washington tomorrow and the permanent secretary of my department, Dennis Richardson, will represent me in London and in Tunis."



Mr Rudd said he was proud of his department's work to re-engage with Europe, Africa and Latin America, which he labelled the "major economic regions of the future".



He also cited the appointment of Australia's first ever ambassador for women and girls and hoped the government would still honour a commitment to appoint its first indigenous Australian as an overseas ambassador.



He thanked his family - wife Therese and children Jessica, Nicholas and Marcus.



"Chatting to them over the course of the last several hours, I thank them for their encouragement and their support as always," he said.



Mr Rudd said he now had "much, much to do'' and ended his press conference without taking questions.

Originally published as URGENT: Kevin Rudd resigns as Foreign Minister