First hints from key German elections

Initial predictions from regional elections in two German states have given little guidance as to the possible outcome of national elections due next year.

Contrary to some opinion polls, the conservative Christian Democrats have easily held Baden-Wuerttemberg in the south west of the country.

The exit polls suggested that the far-right Republican party may lose all seats in the state parliament.

In the neighbouring state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the Social Democrat party of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder looked certain to stay in power.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service