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Page last updated at 07:49 GMT, Monday, 8 December 2008

German 'optimism' about downturn

Gordon Brown has invited French president Nicholas Sarkozy and the president of the European Commission to Downing Street to discuss the economic crisis with business leaders. But the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, will not be in attendance as she is against the plan to follow the Prime Minister's lead. Europe editor Mark Mardell considers what lies behind German reluctance to join in.

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