KEVIN Rudd has broken his silence to deny he has been leaking against Julia Gillard and to strongly back the Prime Minister for re-election.

The dumped Labor leader, who underwent surgery to have his gall bladder removed on Friday, declared that while he was disappointed about his fate, he refused to be bitter and wanted to continue to contribute to public life, The Australian reports.

Mr Rudd made the comments last night in an interview on ABC Radio National.

It came after days of turmoil for Ms Gillard's re-election campaign, including leaks about cabinet deliberations under his government and a stunning collapse in Labor's support in opinion polls taken in his home state of Queensland.

Labor dumped Mr Rudd in favour of Ms Gillard on June 24 when party faction leaders shifted their support after concluding he could not lead Labor back into office.

Mr Rudd said he was speaking out because he could not "stand idly by at the prospect of Mr Abbott sliding into office by default".

"There's no point pretending that it hasn't been difficult for myself and Therese and the kids," he said. "But equally, you know, it's a pretty basic point that what's done can't be undone. And there are bigger things at stake, bigger things than K. Rudd's future, and that's the country's future."

Read more at The Australian online