Sydney, Australia ? Prime Minister John Howard’s conservative alliance handily won a fourth term in Australia’s parliamentary elections Saturday, overcoming widespread anger at his decision to send troops to Iraq last year and his pledge to keep them there.

The island continent’s robust economy under the leadership of Howard, 65, apparently trumped concerns about the war. It has grown during every one of his nine years in office, with unemployment close to all-time lows and inflation running at just 2 percent.

The election was watched abroad as the first referendum for the three main leaders in the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, with President Bush facing a ballot in three weeks and British Prime Minister Tony Blair probably facing voters next spring.

Bush was quick to praise the victory.

“I want to congratulate my good friend Prime Minister John Howard, who won a great victory,” he said Saturday at a campaign event in St. Louis.

With more than three-fourths of votes counted, official results gave Howard’s coalition 52.4 percent to Labor’s 47.6 percent.

The outcome means Australia will make good on Howard’s pledge to keep 900 troops in Iraq until Iraqi authorities say they are no longer needed. The opposition Labor Party led by Mark Latham vowed to bring Australian soldiers home by Christmas if it won power.

Australian troops have not suffered any casualties and do not have combat roles.

A surfer passes a billboard with a photo of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, right, at a polling booth at Sydney's Bondi Beach. Australians voted in their federal election Saturday, giving Howard a fourth term.