While many Germans have welcomed record numbers of refugees to their country, the new arrivals have unleashed fear and fury in small eastern German towns such as Riesa, a centre of far-right support in a country ashamed of its Nazi past.

CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel’s lead in the polls is narrowing days before an election, suggesting she may be forced into another “grand coalition” that may struggle to lift Germany out of a deep downturn.

GERMAN conservative challenger Angela Merkel’s opinion poll lead has shrunk since her TV debate with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and she may not achieve her goal of a centre-right coalition, surveys yesterday showed.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and conservative challenger Angela Merkel square off today in a live televised debate – a crucial encounter that gives both candidates a chance to impress undecided voters two weeks before Germany’s September 18 election.