Rebels force German presidential vote to 3rd round

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative candidate failed to win an absolute majority in the second round of Germany's presidential election on Wednesday, forcing it to a third round that could be damaging for Merkel.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative candidate failed to win an absolute majority in the second round of Germany's presidential election on Wednesday, forcing it to a third round that could be damaging for Merkel.

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Rebel votes among the ruling centre-right coalition meant Christian Wulff, state premier of Lower Saxony, failed in two rounds to beat the centre-left's candidate Joachim Gauck, a Protestant pastor and civil rights campaigner.

In the third round, to be held shortly, candidates need only a simple majority to win. Merkel badly needed a clear victory to offset criticism of her leadership in the financial crisis and record low standing in opinion polls.