BERLIN (AP):
CHANCELLOR GERHARD Schroeder said yesterday that he did not want to prevent the formation of a stable government, sending an apparent signal that he may drop his demand to continue leading Germany.
"I do not want to stand in the way of a continuation of the reform process that I started and a stable government in Germany," Schroeder told the RTL and n-tv television channels.
"This is not about my claim, it is not at all about me personally," Schroeder said. "It is about the political claim to leadership of my party and only the party leadership can decide on that. I will accept any decision."
The remarks followed a vote Sunday in the eastern city of Dresden that completed Germany's national election. Final results there showed conservative challenger Angela Merkel's conservatives winning an extra parliamentary seat and increasing their lead over Schroeder's Social Democrats to four seats from three.
An alliance of their parties has emerged as the likeliest new government, but Merkel and Schroeder both claim the right to be the next chancellor.
