Brown Survives Near Coup

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown avoided a party revolt by the skin of his teeth as two officials called for a secret vote of confidence and another pledged only lukewarm fealty. Foreign Secretary David Milibrand, the Labour official most likely to succeed Brown, spent most of the day in puzzling silence. Tuesday evening, six cabinet ministers were said to support a move against Brown. Eventually, enough ministers rallied to Brown's side to stave off the vote.