German immigration bill rejected despite far-right backing

The German parliament has rejected immigration measures put forward by the conservative opposition and backed by the far-right.

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz, who is tipped to be Germany's next chancellor, had tried to rely on support from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party for the second time in a week - but the bill was defeated by 350 votes to 338.

The strategy was widely condemned, including by Merz's predecessor as CDU leader and former chancellor Angela Merkel, who accused him of turning his back on a previous pledge not to work with AfD in the Bundestag.