Germany: Merkel claims mandate to form govt

Conservative challenger Angela Merkel claimed that her slight edge in German elections gave her a mandate to form a government, but conceded disappointment her Christian Democrats fell well short of their target.

“We would naturally have wanted a better result,” Merkel said. Her party until recent weeks held a double-digit lead over the Social Democrats, and it fell short even of the 38.5% it scored in the last election three years ago.