Coalition talks for a new German government enter the final stages, with taxation still a major sticking point

Three weeks since the German elections - and coalition talks on forming a centre-right government are still underway. Cutting taxes remains one of the biggest issues under discussion. The business friendly Free Democrats are demanding bigger cuts than Chancellor Merkel's conservative bloc is willing to accept. But both sides say they are still on course to finalise a coalition agreement by the end of the week.