German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and main opposition leader Angela Merkel have finished a second round of talks on forming a governing coalition without results - 10 days after an inconclusive general election.
The chairman of Mr. Schroeder's Social Democratic Party, Franz Muentefering, said the two sides will meet again next week.
Mr. Schroeder says he should remain chancellor in a so-called "Grand Coalition" with the Christian Democrats so he can continue his free-market reforms.
Ms. Merkel and her supporters oppose the idea, noting they won slightly more votes than the Social Democrats in the September 18 vote.
Also, a government spokesman says Mr. Schroeder will represent Germany at an informal European Union summit in late October, days after the new German parliament is scheduled to meet and elect a new chancellor.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
