Merkel, left agree to third round of exploratory coalition talks

BERLIN, Oct 15 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) have agreed to hold a third round of talks on Thursday to explore the possibility of forming a coalition government, party sources told Reuters.

Merkel needs to find a partner for her third term after she won September's election but fell short of an absolute majority. She meets the Greens for a second round of talks on Tuesday but is more likely to team up with the SPD, who came second.