Angela Merkel - (Reuters)
Germany's Angela Merkel says she will step down as chancellor in 2021, following recent election setbacks.
She told a news conference in Berlin that she will not be seeking any political post after her term ends.
Her CDU party was severely weakened in elections in the state of Hesse on Sunday, the latest poor performance by parties in her coalition government.
Merkel also said she would not seek re-election as CDU leader in December.
She has held the post since 2000.
The Chancellor said she took full responsibility for recent election setbacks.
In Hesse, both her centre-right CDU and its coalition partners, the Social Democrats, were down 10 per cent on the previous poll - even though they remain in power.
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