Australian prime minister faces challenge to leadership

CANBERRA, Feb 6 (AP): Australia's embattled Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Friday that he and his deputy will urge the ruling party to reject calls for a leadership ballot next week that could potentially oust them in a bid to turn around the government's dismal opinion polling.

 Halfway through its first three-year term, appearances of a united conservative government have been shattered in recent weeks with public dislike for Abbott blamed in part for big swings against conservative governments at elections in Victoria and Queensland states.

 The revolt within the ruling Liberal Party ranks was brought to a head when Abbott was widely criticized for making Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip, an Australian knight on Australia's national day last month.

 The challenge to Abbott's leadership from by a growing band of disgruntled lawmakers has raised the prospect of Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull becoming prime minister next week. Turnbull lost the party leadership to the more conservative Abbott by a single vote in a ballot in 2009 while the Liberals were in opposition.