Germany's Merkel - we had hoped for a slightly better result

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel told supporters she had hoped for a slightly better result in Sunday's federal election, but added her conservative party still managed to reached its main campaign goals.

"Of course we had hoped for a slightly better result. But we mustn't forget that we have just completed an extraordinarily challenging legislative period, so I am happy that we reached the strategic goals of our election campaign," Merkel said.