Rudd resigns as Foreign Minister; blames Gillard silence

Kevin Rudd has resigned as Foreign Minister, saying he's unable to serve on Julia Gillard's front bench given her refusal to defend him against public attacks by Simon Crean and Labor's "faceless men" over recent days.

Rudd, who is travelling in the US, made the announcement at a hastily organised press conference at 1.20am Washington time. He said he would take advice from friends, family and colleagues on what he should do next. He will then release a statement on his future before Parliament resumes on Monday.

"I can promise you this: there is no way, no way, that I will ever be party to a stealth attack on a sitting prime minister elected by the people," he said. "We all know that what happened there was wrong. It must not happen again."

Rudd said Crean and a number of faceless men have publicly attacked his integrity. "Prime Minister Gillard chose not to repudiate them. I can only reluctantly conclude that she therefore shares these views.

"I cannot continue as foreign minister if I do not have prime minister Gillard's support...Under no circumstances do I want Australia's international reputation brought into disrepute."

He added that the "ongoing saga" in the Labor party is bad for business, and bad for his "good friend Anna Bligh".

He said the Labor party must change is culture in order to "end the power of the faceless men".

"I also feel very uncomfortable doing this from Washington, and not from Australa. But I don't feel that I have a choice," said Rudd. 

Australian officials will manage Rudd's remaining tasks in the United Sates.