SYDNEY - AUSTRALIAN opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull said on Sunday he had given a statement to police about a fake email at the heart of claims that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd misled parliament.

It follows a week of political controversy over the so-called 'Utegate' affair, which relates to a small truck, known in Australia as a 'ute', loaned to Mr Rudd by a car dealer friend for electoral purposes.

The email in question allegedly came from Mr Rudd's office and was cited by the opposition as evidence that Rudd had lied over allegations he helped his friend gain access to a government scheme known as 'OzCar', set up to help dealers in the global economic crisis.

But the opposition tactics largely backfired when an intensive search of government computers failed to locate the email. Mr Rudd called in the police and the government spent most of last week calling for Mr Turnbull to resign.

On Sunday, Mr Turnbull told Channel Ten television that he had given a statement on the matter to the Australian Federal Police. 'I've met with the federal police, I've given them a statement,' Mr Turnbull said. 'Let the police do their work.' However, Mr Turnbull denied that the row, in which the opposition also accused Treasurer Wayne Swan of misleading parliament, had damaged his leadership of the main opposition Liberal Party. Turnbull has denied ever having a copy of the email.

'The party is united. We have survived a difficult week,' he said.

Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said on Sunday that Mr Turnbull had 'made an idiot of himself", by accusing the government of lying 'on the basis of an email that turned out to be fake'.

The allegations have had little impact on Mr Rudd's public standing and he remains far ahead in the polls, although Turnbull has been gradually clawing back ground since taking over as opposition leader last year.

Mr Rudd's current three-year term ends in late 2010 and there has been speculation he may seek an early election, although the prime minister has said he intends to serve his full term. -- REUTERS