Merkel says Germany needs solutions for cities with high emissions

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said federal officials would work with German cities facing particularly high air pollution to rapidly develop specific solutions to cut emissions while avoiding driving bans on diesel cars.

Merkel told reporters after a meeting with state government leaders that the primary goal was to avoid driving bans, citing the potential cumulative effect of a series of measures such as changes aimed at lowering emissions by taxi and bus fleets.