German Chancellor Angela Merkel has opened exploratory coalition talks with center-left Social Democrats. After a long coalition-forming process, Merkel stressed the need for speed. Party leaders are attempting to break an impasse, more than three months after the country's election.

ANGELA MERKEL GERMAN CHANCELLOR "We will work very quickly and intensively -- that's what we want to do -- and always keep an eye on what the people in Germany expect from us. They naturally expect politicians to solve their problems and create the conditions that allow people to get involved in our country. I am therefore optimistically looking forward to these talks. However, I am aware that in the next few days there is a lot of work ahead of us. But we are willing to accept this task and to bring it to a good conclusion."

Five days of meetings with the Social Democrats will aim for some action by Friday. Leaders have to find enough common ground to begin formal coalition negotiations and form a new government by March or April. If the parties don't succeed, the remaining options would be for Merkel's conservatives to lead an unprecedented minority government, or for a new election to be held.