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epa03895805 German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) is accompanied by Bavaria state governor Horst Seehofer (L), and CDU secretary general Hermann Groehe (2-L) as they arrive at the Parliamentary Association in Berlin, Germany, 04 October 2013. Others are not identified. Merkel held exploratory talks with the main opposition Social Democrats (SPD) on building a coalition government. Her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian-based sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) won a general election this month but fell just short of securing an absolute majority in parliament. CDU's coalition allies for the last four years, the Free Democrats, failed to win any parliamentary seats in the election. EPA/MAURIZIO GAMBARINI