Merkel says to start coalition talks on Oct 18

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who won an election with a reduced majority two weeks ago, said Monday she would start talks to form a coalition government with two smaller parties on October 18.

Her CDU/CSU conservative alliance would first hold separate talks with the pro-business Free Democrats and the left-leaning Greens on that day, before all parties would jointly meet two days later, she said.

Source: AFP