German government talks collapse; Merkel seeks to reassure
BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged early Monday to maintain stability after the Free Democratic Party pulled out of talks on forming a new government with her conservative bloc and the left-leaning Greens, raising the possibility of new elections.
Merkel told reporters that the parties had been close to reaching a consensus on how to proceed with formal coalition talks but that the Free Democrats decided abruptly to pull out just before midnight Sunday -- a move she said she respected, but found "regrettable."
She said she would consult with Germany's president later in the day to brief him on the negotiations and discuss what comes next.
