SYDNEY, Australia - Prime Minister John Howard scored a convincing victory in Australia's federal election Saturday, winning a historic fourth term in a vote ensuring the staunch U.S. ally keeps its troops in Iraq (news - web sites). With more than 70 percent of votes tallied, Howard appeared likely to increase his government's majority in parliament — exceeding most analysts' predictions that the result would be very tight. "My fellow Australians ... I am truly humbled by this extraordinary expression of confidence in the leadership of this great nation by the coalition," Howard told cheering supporters of his conservative alliance...
