Key lawmaker withdraws support for Aussie gov't

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's tenuous grip on power has weakened with a key independent lawmaker withdrawing his support for her minority government.

Lawmaker Andrew Wilkie announced on Saturday he had ended his 17-month-old agreement with the center-left Labor Party government after Gillard broke a promise to him to introduce legislation that would create new controls on slot machines.

His defection leaves Gillard with control of 75 of the 150 seats in House of Representatives, the lower chamber where parties form governments.