Canadian Liberals have new leader-apparent

OTTAWA, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The competition for leadership of Canada's embattled Liberal party was narrowed to one man Tuesday when the last contender gave support to Michael Ignatieff.

Bob Rae, a Liberal member of Parliament and former socialist premier of Ontario, said at an Ottawa news conference he was withdrawing his name for consideration and supporting Ignatieff, the Globe and Mail reported.

Monday, leader Stephane Dion said he was stepping down as leader after an unprecedented loss of seats in October's federal election.

Because of the party's constitution, the new leader will have to be ratified by a May convention in Vancouver, the Canwest News Service reported.

Wednesday, the party's caucus of 77 members of Parliament and 58 senators are scheduled to convene in Ottawa to discuss their apparent new leader.

The governor general suspended Parliament last week at the request of minority Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The Liberals, NDP and separatist Bloc Quebecois formed a coalition to bring his government down because of alleged foot-dragging on economic matters but Harper won his bid to craft a budget to be released Jan. 27.