Germany slides into political chaos

GERMANY slid into political chaos yesterday after an inconclusive election left chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and his challenger Angela Merkel wrestling for the right to form a new government.

Conservative leader Merkel and Social Democrat Schroeder said yesterday both begun contact with potential coalition partners.

Merkel urged her rival's party to "accept that they are not the strongest party" after Sunday's election and enter talks on a broad right-left alliance under her leadership. But within minutes, the chairman of the Social Democrats, Franz Muentefering, said he had written to other party leaders to invite them to hold talks on a new coalition.