Merkel camp eyes tie-up with Social Democrats, shuns Greens

Bavarian state Premier Horst Seehofer and German Chancellor Angela Merkel await the start of a parliamentary group meeting of the Chirstian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) in Berlin September 24, 2013. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz

BERLIN (Reuters) - Angela Merkel's conservatives appeared headed towards coalition talks with their main centre-left rivals on Tuesday after heavyweights from the German chancellor's camp ruled out a marriage with the environmentalist Greens.

Merkel's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), notched up their best result in more than two decades in a Sunday's election, but finished five seats short of an absolute majority.