Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel to seek fourth term

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she would seek a fourth term in elections next year to defend democratic principles but that she expected her toughest campaign to date.

Merkel told reporters at a meeting of her Christian Democratic Union party that she would run again to "fight for our values and our way of life" but added that she expected strong challenges from both the right and the left of the political spectrum.  

Further details awaited