Peer Steinbrueck: 'We did not get the result we wanted'

Peer Steinbrueck , whose opposition Social Democrats (SPD) party was trying to deny Angela Merkel a third term as German chancellor, has said "we did not get the result we wanted".

MRs Merkel's Christian Democrats took about 42% of the vote, according to exit polls. She may, therefore, be forced to seek a grand coalition with the Social Democrats - estimated to have won 26%.

Mr Steinbrueck was finance minister in the previous grand coalition, but has said he would not serve in such a government again.