Hundreds of masked protesters hurled stones and bottles at police during a demonstration today by tens of thousands of people against the upcoming Group of Eight summit in Germany.

GERMANY’S biggest political parties reached a deal last night to form a coalition government, sealing an accord that would make Angela Merkel the nation’s first woman chancellor.

Conservative leader Angela Merkel and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder headed into a showdown today over who will lead a new government, seeking to end a post-election stalemate that is delaying efforts to tackle Germany’s stubborn economic problems.